Lee lashes Gulf Coast

What was initially thought to be a hurricane, Tropical Storm Lee made landfall over Louisiana Sept. 4, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands all over the Gulf Coast.

The slow-moving Lee soaked the Florida Panhandle, dropping as much as 8 inches of rain in Navarre from Sept. 3 – 5. Wind gusts as strong as 61 mph were recorded on Monday.

The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for Santa Rosa County. County officials warned residents to abstain from unnecessary driving Saturday and Sunday.

Rivers and streams in the county were only expected to reach a minor flood stage. Still, two families on Marshall Road and one on Ward Basin Road voluntarily evacuated, according to Joy Tsubooka, county public information officer.

Double-red flags flew along the shores of Navarre Beach, warning beach-goers to stay out of the water.

For more on this story, see the September 8 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.