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Essential Information
- Residents are asked to stay off the roads this evening if possible, as wind gusts and flash flooding may cause serious road hazards.
- There is a potential for bridge closures. Law enforcement close bridges when SUSTAINED winds (not gusts) reach 39 mph. Not all bridges will close or close at the same time. Each will be announced when AND if a closure(s) occurs.
- The tolls on Bob Sikes Bridge have been lifted until further notice to allow toll staff to leave their posts for weather concerns.
- No evacuations have been ordered and no shelters are open at this time.
- Red flags are currently flying on Pensacola Beach. In Escambia County, except for surfers with a leash, it is illegal to enter the Gulf of Mexico when red flags are flying.
- The emergency operations center is currently at a level 3, or monitoring, and all essential staff are ready to respond as needed.
- The Escambia County Board of County Commission's First Public Hearing for Consideration of the Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2018/2019 scheduled for today, Sept. 4 at 5:31 p.m., was rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 10 at 5:01 p.m. in the board chambers found on the first floor of 221 Palafox Place.
Storm Information as Currently Forecast by the National Weather Service
- A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Escambia County.
- Tropical Storm Gordon is forecast for the center to make landfall along the north-central Gulf Coast within the hurricane warning area this evening or tonight, and then move inland over the lower Mississippi Valley through Wednesday.
- Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph (110 km/h) with higher gusts. Gordon could still become a hurricane before landfall.
- A storm surge watch continues, with 1-3 feet of inundation. The greatest risk of storm surge will be this evening into early Wednesday morning and the water levels will be slow to recede due to onshore winds.
- Rainfall amounts of 3-5 inches, with localized higher amounts up to 6-10 inches possible. Our area is under a flash flood watch.
- A tornado watch has been issued for our area until 4 a.m. Be sure that you have a WEA enabled mobile device or weather radio on overnight so you are able to receive any warnings issued, especially when you are sleeping.
- Dangerous surf conditions and rip currents continue.
Schools
- Escambia School District schools will resume regular schedules on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 and all district offices will resume normal schedules, noting, district transportation routes will be handled as promptly as possible.
- The University of West Florida operations, classes, events and campus activities will resume on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 8 a.m.
- All Pensacola State College campuses, centers, and offices will resume normal operations Wednesday, Sept. 5.
Office Re-openings
- Board of County Commissioner will reopen offices at their normal operating hours.
- Supervisor of Elections will reopen 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5.
- Escambia County Tax Collector's will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5.
- ECUA offices will reopen at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5.
- Pensacola City Hall Administrative Offices will reopen at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5.
Military
Naval Air Station Pensacola expects to open and resume normal operations on Wednesday, Sept. 5 after temporary curtailment due to inclement weather conditions. All facilities and services will be open and employees should report to work at scheduled times. Installation main and west gates will resume regular hours of operations.
Power Outages
- Please do not call 9-1-1 to report power outages.
- Gulf Power knows when your power is out. You can track outages on their outage map from your smartphone on the Gulf Power Outage Map.
- Report outages to Escambia River Cooperative, Inc at 1-877-OUT-EREC or 1-877-688-3732 and view the EREC Outage Map.
- Never touch a fallen power line and assume all wires on the ground are electrically charged.
Recreational Closures
- The fishing pier is closed until further notice.
- Gulf Islands National Seashore at Ft. Pickens, Perdido Key, and Opal Beach Day use is closed. Areas will reopen after the storm has passed and the staff has an opportunity to mitigate any hazards resulting from the storm.
Road Closures
- Gulf Islands National Seashore officials will close Hwy. 399/J. Earle Bowden Road between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach today at 4 p.m. ahead of Tropical Storm Gordon.
- Online resources include:
- City of Pensacola road closures can be viewed here.
- Travelers can access Florida's 511 service from cell phones, landlines and online at www.FL511.com.
