- A 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew has been issued for Escambia County due to Hurricane Sally, effective at 7 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 16. This curfew includes the City of Pensacola. The violation of an emergency order is a second degree misdemeanor, which is a max 60 days jail/$500 fine.
- On Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores, AL at 4:45 a.m. as a Category 2 with sustained winds of 105 mph and gusts 120+ mph.
- Escambia County sustained substantial damage due to wind and flooding.
- Officials are working to assess flooding and wind damage from Hurricane Sally. Everyone is encouraged to continue to shelter in place for as long as it remains safe to do so. Roadways are likely not safe for travel. There has been road damage in the county.
- Escambia County is working closely with State and Federal partners to assist in response and have requested multiple assets and personnel.
- Pensacola Energy asks the public to call 850-474-5307 if you smell gas.
- The Citizen Information Line is available 24 hours a day for residents to call with questions or concerns at: (850) 471-6600
- Everyone is encouraged to follow BeReadyEscambia Facebook and Twitter sites for the latest Hurricane Sally information.
- While reaching out to friends and family, we encourage you to text rather than call to keep cell towers open for 911 callers.
- Escambia County Fire and Rescue, National Guard and the Sherriff’s Office are actively working on water rescues and life saving measures in the Bristol Park and Woods.
- Currently, ECFR, EMS and Sheriff’s Office are undergoing swift water and stillwater response and rescue operations. As of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, there have been 377 water rescue operations. Emergency services personnel are embedded in emergency vehicles from the Florida National Guard to assist with rescues. Emergency Management has also requested and received response from the United States Coast Guard who are sending boat teams over from Mobile as well as our FEMA USAR partners who were pre-staged and will be arriving momentarily from Jacksonville and Tennessee in the next few hours. 200 National Guardsmen are arriving tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 17.
- Emergency Management has also engaged voluntary organizations active in disaster and the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief has a full response coming to our area for relief.
- Hospitals are opened and staffed; however, some are under generator power. 9-1-1 calls are being prioritized so please be patient. Those who are in imminent danger will be helped first.
- EMS has responded to over 200 calls for service.
- The Pensacola Bay Center continues to be open as a shelter that also takes special needs and is pet-friendly. Success Academy located at 7045 Wymart Rd in Pensacola opened today at 4 p.m. and is not a special needs shelter at this time.
- County offices will also be closed Thursday, Sept. 17 to the public. County emergency critical personnel will still be required to report to work. The EOC at the Public Safety Building will continue to operate.
- The Lake Stone Campground will be closed until further notice due to fallen trees at or across the entry/exit road. Parks crews will be in the field performing initial damage assessments beginning Thursday on ballparks, neighborhood parks, and other park properties. We will be trying to clear fallen debris, and safeguard park properties within these initial damage assessments. With that said, we urge the public to be very cautious within the park property areas and if possible, please avoid the park properties with fallen debris and damage until the Parks and Recreation crews have had the chance to access any damage, cleanup fallen debris, and make any required safety repairs.
- Palafox Transfer Station closed Thursday 9/17/20
- Perdido Landfill scheduled to open from9am -5pm Thursday, 9/17/20
- Regional Round Up at Washington High School scheduled for this Saturday, 9/19/20 has been cancelled.
Known Damage and Closure
- A section of 3-Mile bridge has been damaged and is being accessed by FDOT, Emergency Management and county officials.
- I10 traffic is being diverted eastbound at the 17 mile marker and westbound at the 31 mile marker until the barge and crane are secure.
- Most of downtown Pensacola is flooded and not accessible.
- Summit Blvd. is not accessible due to flooding
- Airport remains closed until further notice.
Baptist Health Care
- Baptist, Gulf Breeze and Jay hospital inpatient services and emergency departments remain open.
- Outpatient services for radiation and infusion therapies at Baptist Hospital will reopen Thursday, Sept. 17. All other outpatient services at the hospitals will reopened as soon as possible. These services include those for wound care, physical rehabilitation, lab, retail pharmacy, elective surgery/procedures and imaging.
- All Baptist Medical Group physician offices will be closed Thursday, Sept. 17.
- Outpatient services at the following locations are closed Thursday, Sept. 17:
- Andrews Institute*
Baptist Medical Park – Pace
Baptist Medical Park – Nine Mile*
Baptist Medical Park – Airport
Baptist Medical Park – Navarre
*(Including ambulatory surgery centers)
- Patients will be contacted directly to reschedule appointments. We apologize for any inconvenience. Plans are to reopen all services as soon as possible. Please check our Facebook page for updates.
City of Pensacola
- Initial reports include significant flooding, downed trees and power lines, power outages and multiple traffic signal outages. The city has started initial damage assessments from Hurricane Sally, and crews will continue until the assessments are completed.
- Multiple roadways in the city are closed or impassable due to flooding, downed power lines and other debris. For a real-time road closures map, visit pensacolapolice.com.
- The city is aware of multiple flooded facilities and roadways, and we appreciate the public's patience as damages are assessed.
- The City of Pensacola’s 311 is down for non-emergency calls. The City is working to restore service as soon as possible.
- At this time, Pensacola Fire Department and Pensacola Police Department are only responding to critical, life threatening emergencies due to high wind gusts and unsafe conditions.
- PFD and PPD have responded to multiple calls to rescue people from cars. Onlookers are putting themselves and first responders at risk and taking resources away from those who are experiencing critical, life threatening emergencies.
- PFD has been coordinating with a National Guard high water response vehicle to rescue multiple occupants trapped due to high waters.
- PFD responded to a residential structure fire on 9th Avenue at approximately 6 a.m today, Wednesday, Sept. 16. Despite dangerous conditions with high winds, PFD crews were able to extinguish the fire and rescue the occupants. PPD transported the occupants to the Pensacola Bay Center shelter.
- Pensacola Energy crews are responding to calls for service south of I-10 and will respond to calls north of I-10 when conditions are safe. If you smell natural gas or see a damaged gas line, please call Pensacola Energy at 474-5307.
- Pensacola International Airport is closed until further notice.
- City of Pensacola offices and community centers will remain closed tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 17. Essential personnel will be working.
- City Sanitation Services are suspended for the remainder of the week. Sanitation Services will resume Monday, Sept. 21 on a regular pickup schedule.
Community Health Northwest Florida
- At this point, until the storm passes and we are able to get out and assess the condition of each site, all CHNWF locations will remain closed tomorrow, September 17. The safety of our patients and staff is our number one concern. Rest assured, we will resume regular operations as soon as possible.
Council on Aging
- As conditions begin to improve from Hurricane Sally, line crews are able to conduct damage assessment on our power system and begin restoration. As of now, 95% of our members are without power. We have line crews arriving from Florida and Mississippi to assist our linemen with power restoration. There are specific steps we must take to restore power to the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time. Crews will work around the clock to get everyone’s electricity back on as quickly and safely as possible.
First Judicial Circuit
- State courts in Escambia and Walton Counties will be CLOSED on Thursday and Friday, September 17 and 18, 2020. Regular operations will resume on Monday, Sept. 21.
- State courts in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties will be CLOSED on Thursday, September 17. If closure is required on Friday, that announcement will be made as soon as possible.
Florida Department of Transportation
Chipley – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is providing an update on state road and bridge closures and restrictions in Northwest Florida due to Hurricane Sally.
Bay County
- Business U.S. 98 near Arizona Chemical Company is closed due to flooding.
- State Road (S.R.) 390 from New York Avenue to Mowat School Road closed due to flooding.
Escambia County
- Pensacola International Airport has suspended operations for all arriving and departing commercial aircraft.
- I-10 is closed from the Alabama-Florida state line through the Escambia Bay Bridge due to flooding.
- The Pensacola Bay Bridge on U.S. 98 is closed to all traffic.
- The Escambia Bay Bridge on I-10 is closed due to high winds.
- The Theo Baars Bridge (S.R.292/Gulf Beach Parkway) is closed due to high winds.
- S.R. 292 at Mirella Street is closed due to flooding.
- The U.S. 98 bridge over Perdido Bay is closed due to high winds.
- U.S. 98 is closed at Paradise Lane due to flooding.
- U.S. 98 from North 13th Avenue to Baybridge Drive is closed due to flooding
- S.R. 196 at Romana Street is closed due to flooding.
- Northbound S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) is blocked by trees between 9-Mile Road and I-10.
Gulf County
- U.S. 98 in Port St. Joe between Avenue D and Avenue A is closed due to flooding.
Holmes County
- S.R. 79 from U.S. 90 to Son in Law Road in Bonifay is closed due to flooding.
- U.S. 90 through the city limits of Bonifay is closed due to flooding.
- S.R. 81 from I-10 to Windmill Road is closed due to flooding.
Okaloosa County
- U.S. 98 from Calhoun Avenue to Marler Street is closed due to flooding.
- One lane eastbound on U.S. 98 in Destin from Regatta Bay Boulevard to Gulfstarr Drive is open to traffic. Westbound and additional lanes remain closed due to flooding.
- Westbound U.S. 98 at Mary Esther Drive is closed due to flooding.
- Marler Bridge is closed due to flooding.
- S.R. 85 at Old Ferry Road is closed due to flooding.
- S.R. 85 at Lighthouse Point Road is closed due to flooding.
- U.S. 98 from Ferry Road to Brooks Street is closed due to flooding.
- Brooks Bridge on U.S. 98 is closed due to high winds.
Santa Rosa County
- Garcon Point Bridge S.R. 281 is closed due to high winds.
- S.R. 281 (Avalon Blvd) is closed between U.S. 90 and Carroll Road due to flooding.
Walton County
- U.S. 98 is closed from Regatta Bay Boulevard to Gulfstarr Drive/Vinnings Way due to flooding.
- S.R. 81 near Windmill Road is closed due to flooding.
- S.R. 20 near Basin Bayou is closed due to flooding.
- The outside southbound lane on the Clyde B. Wells Bridge on U.S. 331 is closed due to storm surge.
- The outside eastbound lane of U.S. 98 near Veterans Road is closed due to flooding.
Washington County
- Pine Log Creek Bridge on S.R. 20 is closed due to flooding.
- S.R. 277 from U.S. 90 in Chipley to Pioneer Road in Vernon is closed due to flooding.
- U.S. 90 between Brown Street and Spangenberg Road in Chipley is closed due to flooding.
- S.R. 77 from Wausau to Clayton Road is closed due to flooding.
- S.R. 20 from S.R. 79 to S.R. 77 is closed due to flooding.
FDOT actively monitors bridges for wind hazards and evaluates for closure when sustained winds reach 40 miles per hour (mph). The Florida Highway Patrol or local law enforcement will close bridges once wind speeds become high enough to create hazardous driving conditions. As wind speeds continue to rise, law enforcement and FDOT personnel will be required to seek shelter and use of the road will be at a motorist’s own risk.
Motorists are encouraged to monitor weather reports and road conditions and to be on the lookout for flooded roads. If the road ahead is flooded, turn around and find an alternate route. Flooded roads may hide the fact that the roadway is washed out underneath and as little as six inches of rushing water can force your car off the road.
For the latest closures and updates, travelers can access Florida’s 511 service from cell phones, landlines and online at www.FL511.com. For more information visit the Florida Department of Transportation District Three on the web at www.nwflroads.com, follow us on Twitter @myfdot_nwfl, or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MyFDOTNWFL.
Florida Department of Health in Escambia County
- Offices will be closed Thursday, Sept. 17 and there will be no COVID-19 testing tomorrow.
- Carbon Monoxide dangers: http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2020/09/091520-carbon-monoxide-dangers.pr.html
Gulf Power
For the latest outage map and to report an outage visit https://map.gulfpower.com/ and 800-487-6937. News releases are at https://www.gulfpowernews.com/. There are approximately 153,000 households without power.
Supervisor of Elections
- The Supervisor of Elections Office will remain closed on Thursday, September 17. Many of our services are available online at EscambiaVotes.gov.
- Election worker training scheduled for Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19 will be rescheduled. Class attendees will be notified of the new training date and time.
Pensacola Christian Academy and Pensacola Christian College
- Do not attempt to move downed power lines. Please contact Gulf Power at 1-800-GU-POWER (1-800-487-6937)
- Unless you are in a life-threatening situation, please shelter in place and do not venture out.
- Chain Saw Safety:
- Become familiar with the recommended safe operational procedures before attempting to work with a chain saw.
- Be sure that you are in top physical and mental condition when operating dangerous machinery. Medications and alcohol can cause you to be a hazard to yourself and others when working with chain saws.
- Equip yourself with protective clothing and equipment including safety goggles, hearing protection, steel-toed shoes, hard hat, gloves, and close-fitting clothing.
- Never make cuts with the saw between your legs; always cut with the saw to the outside of your legs.
- Don’t stand on a log and saw between your feet.
- Always stand to one side of the limb you are cutting; never straddle it.
- Always keep in mind where the chain will go if it breaks; never position yourself or other people in line with the chain.
- Keep the chain out of the dirt; debris will fly.
Helpful Links and Contacts
Outages:
- Gulf Power: 1-800-GU-POWER (1-800-487-6937)
- Escambia River Electric Cooperative: 1-877-OUT-EREC (1-877-688-3732)
- ECUA General Customer Service: (850) 476-0480
Law Enforcement: All emergencies: 911
Utilities
How You Can Help
- United Way of West Florida (UWWF) will open a relief fund for those affected by Hurricane Sally.
- UWWF will accept financial contributions to the fund to provide support to these households.
- UWWF will accept financial contributions to help victims of Hurricane Sally.
- BRACE strongly encourages Cash, Confirm, and Connect through cash donations the affected can receive the aid they need.
- At this time, there are no needed items for those impacted by Hurricane Sally. ESF 15 encourages cash donations to UWWF
- Potential volunteers should confirm that they are needed before traveling to impacted areas. If you are interested in volunteering, register on Get Connected: https://bit.ly/3hyZ7dv