Storm Information as Currently Forecasted by the National Weather Service

• Santa Rosa County is currently under a tropical storm warning, which means tropical storm conditions are expected sometime between late Monday evening and Tuesday morning, with winds of 40-50 MPH through Tuesday morning and early afternoon. Tropical storm force gusts with winds up to 60 MPH are possible.
• Four to six inches of rain in our area, with up to eight inches in some areas.
• Storm surge of three to five feet, with maximum storm tide occurring late Monday evening and early Tuesday morning.
• A flood warning, including the Blackwater and Coldwater rivers has been issued through Friday, Nov. 13.

 Actions Taken by Santa Rosa County

• A local state of emergency was declared at this morning’s board of county of commissioners meeting.
• The emergency operations center is now activated at a level one or full activation.
• Santa Rosa County officials have issued a voluntary evacuation order for all mobile homes, RV parks, campgrounds, those living in low-lying areas and all of Navarre Beach beginning at 10 a.m. today.
• The Citizens Information Line is open. Citizens may call (850) 983-INFO (4636) with questions.

    Road Closures

• Residents are asked to stay off the roads on Monday evening and Tuesday as the heavy rain may flood low-lying area roads and bridges. 
• No roads or bridges are currently closed. Any closures will be announced as they occur.

 Shelters

• An American Red Cross shelter for both the general public and those with special needs will open at 10 a.m. at the Milton Community Center located at 5629 Byrom Street in Milton.
• Shelter population as of 5 p.m.: Five

o        Three special needso        Two care takerso        Five staff

• Shelters are opened to ensure your safety. Please remember they are crowded and usually uncomfortable. It is recommended that other arrangements be made to stay at a hotel or with a friends or family in a well-constructed home out of the evacuation area that is properly protected to withstand hurricane force winds.
• Anyone needing transportation assistance to a shelter, call (850) 983-4636.  We will only provide transportation to a designated shelter.
• If you go to a public evacuation shelter, you will need to take the following items:

•  
  • Personal identification
  • A change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes.
  • Toiletries and personal items.
  • Blankets or sleeping bags.
  • Identification and any important papers.
  • Games or toys for children; books for adults.
  • Special items for infants or elderly family members.
  • Any special dietary needs and nonperishable foods for snacks.
  • Battery operated radio, flashlights and plenty of spare batteries.
  • Prescription medications or any over-the-counter medications you normally take.
  • Those with special needs must come with their own caregiver.

  Santa Rosa Medical Center·         Several primary care and pediatric physicians in the Milton and Pace area will be closed Tuesday, Nov.10, as well as Outpatient Geriatric Psych services and Outpatient Wound Care services.  ·         Anyone in need of non-emergent medical attention is encouraged to go to Santa Rosa Urgent Care, located at 4944 Highway 90 in Milton (across from Wal-Mart).  ·         Urgent care hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. ·         If you need additional information please call Santa Rosa Medical Center at (850) 626-7762.  Public Schools·            Area public schools will be closed on Tuesday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 11 (in observance of Veterans Day). Other Schools

• The University of West Florida campus will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 10.
• Pensacola Junior College, including the Milton Campus, is closed and will be re-open on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 a.m.

 County Offices

• All non-essential county offices will be closed until Thursday, Nov. 12. 
• The central landfill will be open Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Normal business hours will resume on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
• The household hazardous waste facility will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 10 and Wednesday, Nov.  11.

 Court System

• All court systems including the Clerk of Court will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 10. 

 H1N1 Vaccinations

• The Santa Rosa County Health Department clinics are closed at all locations until 8 a.m. Thursday, November 12. 

 Power Outages

• 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 1-877-688-3732.
• The Gulf Power electric utility has crews ready to restore power as soon as the high winds subside and it is safe to begin work. Residents can expect sporadic power outages.
• Escambia River Electric Cooperative, Inc. is ready to respond should Hurricane Ida cause damage to the EREC power system

  Whiting Field

• Naval Air Station Whiting Field has the following announcements:
  • The Child Development Center is closed will re-open on Thursday, Nov. 12.
  • The Branch Health Clinic is closed. Regular appointments will resume on Thurs, November 12.
  • Both east and west gates to the base will be secured at 5 p.m. and will remain closed until further notice.
  • Essential personnel are to report to their duty stations and will remain in a 24- hour on base duty status throughout the duration of the storm.

 Additional Closures·            Navarre Chamber will be closed until Tuesday, Nov. and will re-open Thursday, Nov. 12. ·            Gulf Islands National Seashore has closed all locations in Florida including Fort Pickens, Opal Beach, Perdido Key, Naval Live Oaks, Fort Barrancas, and Okaloosa Area; and in Mississippi: Davis Bayou Area, Ship, Horn, Cat and Petit Bois Islands to all public use.  All visitors currently in the Seashore are being instructed to leave at this time and urged to safeguard their property. Gulf Islands National Seashore will reopen after the storm has passed and the staff has an opportunity to mitigate any hazards resulting from the storm·            Council on Aging of West Florida offices and congregate meals sites in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The Gulf Breeze caregiver support group is cancelled for Tuesday evening. Florida Department of Children and Families·            Santa Rosa offices will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 10 and will re-open on Thursday, Nov. 12.   City of Milton·            City offices will operate on its normal schedule today, and are scheduled to re-open at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10.  All critical and essential employees should report for work as scheduled and standby employees will report for work at 10:00 am on Tuesday, Nov. 10.  ·            The Milton Community Center is being operated as a county evacuation shelter and will not be available for community functions today and Tuesday.   City Jay ·            The city of Jay will maintain normal business hours. City of Gulf Breeze·            Both residential and commercial garbage services within the city will be postponed one day (Tuesday collections on Wednesday, etc).·            No debris collection is scheduled.·            Normal yard waste collection on Thursday, all waste should be “bundled, binned or bagged.”   General Safety Information

• www.santarosa.fl.gov
• Please monitor your home weather radio and local media outlets for the most up-to-date information.
• Your best defense in any disaster is a NOAA Weather radio.
• Citizens can signup to automatically receive breaking news alerts from Santa Rosa County Emergency Management via e-mail or as a text message on their cell phone at:  http://www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency/publicwarning.html