Gustav update-latest info

Monday, 01 September 2008 06:00 Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 September 2008 10:21 Written by Staff Reports

Santa Rosa County Emergency Management continues to monitor Gustav and prepare for the potential effects of the storm. Actions by Santa Rosa County

County Administrator Hunter Walker signed a local state of emergency at 11 a.m. Sunday morning.
The emergency operations center is at a level 2 or partial activation with key staff. All emergency staff are on call.
Emergency management staff will monitor river levels, but no flooding is expected.
The citizen information line is activated until further notice. The number is (850) 983- INFO/4636 or (800) 225-7421.
Public works has placed all staff on call, have staged equipment and are prepared to take action. Their first priority will be to clear roads for first responders.

Roads

Any road closures will be announced as they occur.
Standing water has been reported on:
- Gulf Boulevard on Navarre Beach near South Carolina Street
- The eastern section of Madura Road in Tiger Point and the adjacent cul-de-sacs. The stormwater lift station has been turned off until the storm surge subsides.

Damage· Minor damage was reported from a possible tornado on Ceylon Drive in Midway.· A family needed assistance leaving their home on Andrew Jackson Drive in Floridatown due to storm surge. · Minor beach erosion has been reported at Navarre Beach. Shelters· The American Red Cross opened a shelter at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Milton Community Center- 5629 Byrom Street for special needs, the general population, and as a host shelter for evacuees.o Shelter populations as of 11 a.m. September 1- 110 total:§ 6 special needs, 1 caregiver§ 94 general population- 60 Santa Rosa County residents, 34 evacuees§ 9 staff Power Outages· Escambia River Electric Cooperative, Inc. is experiencing very few scattered outages in northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida. Crews have been able to quickly restore the isolated outages that have occurred thus far as a result of Gustav’s far reaching storm bands. EREC will continue to monitor the storm closely and respond accordingly.

Gulf Power as of 10 a.m. – Outages are:
- Bay – 37
- Escambia – 2765
- Okaloosa – 506
- Santa Rosa – 614
- Washington -22
- Total is 3,944, down from an earlier total of 5,300. Crews will begin working to bring the power back on as soon as conditions improve.

Accommodations

Evacuees seeking accommodations can visit www.floridabeachestorivers.com

Tornado Safety Tips

What to do during a tornado:
- Go to interior or basement room on lower level.
- In a large building (school, hospital, etc) go to pre-designated shelter area or interior hall on lowest level.
- Get under a sturdy desk or furniture if possible, use arms and hands to protect head.
- In a mobile home, RV or trailer, get out immediately and go to a permanent structure. If none is available, seek shelter in a ditch or culvert. Do not attempt to out-drive a tornado.
- Keep a disaster kit handy.

· What to do if outdoors:

- If shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building.
- Be aware of the potential for flooding.

o Use arms to protect head and neck.· What to do after a tornado:

- Call 9-1-1 to report damage and injuries
- Be aware of debris and downed power lines.
- Monitor radio and TV for current information.
- Check family for injuries, move injured only if necessary. Check on neighbors when it is safe to do so.

Government Offices/Schools

At this time, no plans have been made to close offices or cancel public school.
UWF- At the present time, the university administration has announced that the UWF Main and Emerald Coast campuses will be open Tuesday. Students in affected areas who may be delayed in returning to campus Tuesday should contact the Division of Student Affairs at (850) 474-2214 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Steps Residents Can Take

Beachgoers, swimmers and surfers should heed red flag warnings and stay out of the water.
Please do not call 9-1-1 to report power outages. Power outages should be reported to Gulf Power at

1-800-GU-Power (1-800-487-6937) or Escambia River Cooperative, Inc. at 1-877-OUT-EREC or 1-877-688-3732

Mariners should heed small-craft warnings and remain in port.

City of Gulf BreezeThe City of Gulf Breeze has established an e-mail list to provide community and emergency information to residents. Sign up at the City’s website: www.cityofgulfbreeze.com and follow the link under “Emails from the City” on the front page. FEMA –Hurricane Gustav Evacuee Locator Service

Call 1-800-588-9822
Visit www.fema.gov

Official County Storm Information

www.santarosa.fl.gov
Updates, notifications and alerts are available by e-mail or text messaging during an emergency. To subscribe to this free public service, please log on to www.santarosa.fl.gov