Hurricane Sally Update from Escambia County Sept. 28

Hurricane Sally Update from Escambia County Sept. 28 at 10:45 a.m.

  • The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, the City of Pensacola Mayor and local state delegation members have sent a letter to the President of the United States requesting FEMA Individual Disaster Assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally. The Florida Panhandle was hit with a Category 2 hurricane on Sept. 16, 2020 with over 105 mph sustained wind, gusts up to 123 mph, over 30 inches of rain and water inundation as high as 15 feet in the Perdido Key area. News Release

·President Trump has declared a major disaster exists in Florida from Hurricane Sally, including Escambia County, Florida, for all public assistance, including direct federal assistance, for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Individual assistance is still under review. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state as warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington Counties are approved for Public Assistance Category B (emergency protective measures), including direct federal assistance. All areas in the State of Florida are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. 

If you have sustained damage to your home or business, please send photos of the damage, along with your address or neighborhood and a brief description of the damage (200 words max) to hurricanesally@myescambia.com. Please put your address in the subject line.

To view the designated areas in this declaration, please visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4564/designated-areas.

Read More: President Donald J. Trump Approves Florida Disaster Declaration

  • Escambia County is working closely with State and Federal partners to assist in response and have requested multiple assets and personnel.
  • The Citizen Information Line is available seven days a week from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. 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.
  • Emergency Management has also engaged voluntary organizations active in disaster and the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief has a full response team coming to our area for relief. 
  • The county is currently working on infrastructure assessments. Preliminary estimates are approx. $182.6 million of damage to public and private property in the county and city of Pensacola. 
  • Lake Stone campground has been reopened as power has been restored and fallen trees handled. Interested campers for Lake Stone should call the campground directly at 850-256-5555.
  • The Equestrian Center is available for horse owners from effected areas. For stall information, interested horse owners should contact the Equestrian Center directly at 850-941-6042 in which owners will be briefed on the required paperwork for the horses to be stalled at the facility.
  • We would like to thank all our media partners for getting information to residents during Hurricane Sally. A few residents who lack power have reminded us that radio updates are the best for them. WUWF 88.1 FM has been airing all our press conferences in their entirety.
  • Contractors can get building permits at the COC, 3363 West Park Place, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. For storm-related repairs, permitting fees are waived; however, permits and land use approvals are still required.

·

  • Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 22, county building services will also be available at the Santa Rosa Island Authority building, 1 Via De Luna Dr, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.
  • Escambia County will begin curbside removal of debris generated by Hurricane Sally on Wednesday, Sept. 23. News Release
    • Debris that was generated by Hurricane Sally should be placed and sorted on the area immediately adjoining the road in front of your home.
    • The county has divided its jurisdiction into three zones and contracted with three separate companies to accomplish the debris removal in 90 days.
  • If you need assistance with debris cleanup, mucking, tarp installation and mold remediation, please contact Crisis Cleanup at 800.451.1954
  • Over 40,187 meals have been served in our community at county feeding sites.
  • Residents in Molino, Carver Park and Cantonment who need food and water can contact the Citizen Information Line at 850-471-6600 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to put in a request. Please provide your name, phone number and address to be contacted to schedule logistics while supplies last. (There are tarps, but food and water supplies have been allocated).

·Recreational boaters are asked to refrain from boating due to submerged and floating debris, damaged/missing waterway markers.

·All Escambia County boat ramps are "USE AT OWN RISK"

Galvez Boat Ramp: The east ramp is ok for use at own risk, but the west ramp needs evaluation, therefore should not be used. Docks sustained some damage, and these areas are marked with caution and danger tape.

Coronado Ramp should not be used until repaired.

Bill Dickson Ramp is open, but the eastern dock is taped off due to missing dock section.

Navy Point and Mahogany Mill Ramps are open, but extra caution is advised at all docks.

The ramp at Pensacola Shipyard Marine Complex is closed. 

The Wilson B. Robertson Ramp on Perdido River is open, however, caution is advised.

·District 2 Commissioner Doug Underhill and District 3 Commissioner Lumon May, in coordination with the Florida Department of Emergency Management, will host a three-day Community Outreach Center event Friday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 27 to support Forest Creek Apartment residents with finding housing and other community resources after Hurricane Sally.

·Applications are currently being accepted for debris monitors in Escambia County. The job pays $1,000 per week for 12 hours per day, seven days a week.

A job fair will be held Tuesday from noon until 4 p.m. at the Escambia County Central Office Complex at 3363 West Park Place.

Applicants:

  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Must be able to read, write and speak in English
  • Must have a valid driver license and safe driving history
  • Must have your own working vehicle and cell phone
  • Must have the ability to work in the outside elements for long periods of time (this may include standing outside for the duration of daily debris removal (rain or shine)
  • Must have a flexible schedule with the availability to work up to 12 hours a day and seven days a week; may be required to work some days in excess of 12 hours
  • Must be able to travel to various work locations within the recovery area
  • Must have high school diploma, GED, or equivalent
  • Must pass random drug screening
  • Provide proof of citizenship or authorization to work in the U.S.

For more information and to apply, click here.

  • On Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 3:30-5 pm. Building Services will host an educational workshop at the Central Office Complex on how to proceed with severe structural damage to your home or property. Another workshop will be held the following week on Pensacola Beach.
  • No press conferences are scheduled for today or over the weekend, unless there is breaking news. Over the weekend, the media is asked to email cmr@myescambia.com or call the Joint Information Center at (850) 471-6462 if there is an urgent need.

Florida SBDC - Business Recovery Center

  •  As a result of Hurricane Sally, the Florida SBDC has been asked to open Business Recovery Centers in order to assist area businesses with applying for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loans

·Florida SBDC at UWF - Business Recovery Centers:

·Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce – Leslie Nguyen

15500 Perdido Key Dr.

Pensacola, FL 32507

·Florida SBDC at UWF (SCI Building) – Jenny Kunz

220 W. Garden St. Suite 301

Pensacola, FL 32502

·Florida SBDC at UWF (UWF Building 8) – Brooke Gaskell

9999 University Parkway

Pensacola, FL 32514

·Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church – Christa Wilson

75 Fairpoint Dr.

Gulf Breeze, FL 32561

·Santa Rosa County Economic Development – John Emsing

6491 Caroline St. #4

Milton, FL 32570

·Florida SBDC at UWF (Synovus Bank) – Bryan Mills

815 Beal Parkway NW, Suite A

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32566

The National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

  • The National Park Service has mobilized the Eastern Incident Management Team to Gulf Islands National Seashore in response to the effects of Hurricane Sally. Responders began arriving at the park on Monday and immediately set to work addressing critical needs to assess damage, stabilize facilities, and begin the process or restoring visitor access. A total of 38 National Park Service employees from 22 parks and programs have responded to the national seashore to assist in these efforts.
  • As a critical roadway for the community, the national seashore’s top priority is to clear and provide some access along J. Earle Bowden Way (Hwy 399 between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach). An initial assessment of the road indicates significant damage along sections of the road and portions of Fort Pickens Road. Efforts to clear both roads have been hampered by ongoing weather which has saturated sand and flooded roadways again. Despite these challenges, significant progress has been made since last weekend when work began. 

Council on Aging of West Florida Feeding Sites:

Council on Aging of Northwest Florida will be distributing free shelf-stable meals to seniors on Thursday, Sept. 24  from 11 a.m. until noon at the following city community resource centers.

  • Bayview Senior Center, 2000 E. Lloyd St.
  • Cobb Resource Center, 601 E. Mallory St.
  • Fricker Resource Center, 900 N. F St.

Participants will receive five shelf-stable meals per person eligible for the senior meal site program. Council on Aging will distribute five additional shelf-stable meals on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the same time and locations. 

Meals will be available for pickup only. Seniors must contact Council on Aging at 432-1475 in advance to reserve their meals for both weeks.

Known County Damage and Closures

  • A section of the Three Mile Bridge has been damaged and is being accessed by the Florida Department of Transportation, Emergency Management and county officials.
  • At this time, the Parks and Recreation Department is in the process of initial damage assessments at our Escambia County parks. While in this process, we are strongly encouraging the public to refrain from park use until initial clean up and safety efforts are made. 

Feeding Sites

Salvation Army Feeding Locations:

The Salvation Army will be holding a food distribution for the public this Saturday 9/26/2020.  

THE SALVATION ARMY CORPS FOOD DISTRIBUTION  

WHEN: Saturday, September 26, 2020; 10 am to 2 pm CST (or until supplies are gone)  

WHERE: The Salvation Army Corps, 1501 North Q Street, Pensacola, FL  

WHAT: The Salvation Army and volunteers will be distributing shelf stable food, frozen meat, water and Gatorade  

WHO: Open to the public. This will be a drive-through event on the property.  

Confirmed feeding for Thursday, Sept. 25:

ESCAMBIA COUNTY *fixed feeding site 

*Point Church- 13801 Innerarity Point Rd., Pensacola, FL 32507 ~ Hours Lunch at Noon to 4 pm  

*350 West Herman St- 350 West Herman Ave ~ Hours Lunch at Noon to 4:00 p.m.  

*Olive Baptist- 103 Winthrop Ave., Pensacola, FL 32507 ~ Hours Lunch at Noon to 4:00 p.m.  

*Park near The Salvation Army ~ Pensacola- a fixed feeding site has been established at Park near The Salvation Army Corps ~ Hours Lunch at 1:00p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  

*Westminster Village- a fixed site has been established at Westminster Village- Hours Noon to 1:00 p.m. 

*Corner of Mobile Hwy/Fairfield Ave- a fixed site has been established at Corner of Mobile Hwy/Fairfield Ave-Hours Noon to 4:00p.m.  

ALABAMA 

*Seminole Al- Fire Station at 32268 US Hwy 90., Seminole, Alabama ~ Hours Lunch at Noon to 4 pm. 

Red Cross Mobile Feeding Areas:  

The American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV's) will be out during mealtimes between 11:00 and 2:00. Evening feeding is based on need in specific areas:  

Area Around:  Street: 

Sunburst/Perdido Estates                              5305 Viking Road 

Sunrise Apartments                                  4350 West Fairfield Dr 

Carver Park, (Cantonment Improvement Committee)        208 Webb St. 

Lucas Creek Apartments                              7815 Lilac Lane 

Bayview Senior Center                               2000 E Lloyd St 

Traffic Signals

·All signalized intersections are operational.  

Baptist Health Care

·All Baptist Health Care facilities are back to normal operations. For all locations, patients are being contacted directly to reschedule cancelled appointments. We thank you for your patience as we worked through the challenges presented by Hurricane Sally. 

The regular Jay Hospital phone number has been restored. To reach Jay Hospital, please call 675-8000.

Debris removal is ongoing at many of our campuses, so please be cautious if you visit. Please visit facebook.com/BaptistHealthCare for updates.  

City of Pensacola

    Recovery Updates

  • City of Pensacola staff have been working diligently to clear downed trees from city roadways, restore traffic signals, clear stormwater ponds, assess damages and more since Hurricane Sally made landfall. City Public Works and Facilities, Parks and Recreation, Inspection Services and Sanitation Services staff began recovery work as soon as it was safe to do so after Hurricane Sally, and the city has also hired several contractors to help expedite the recovery efforts. 
  • The public's patience is appreciated as crews continue to work throughout the city.

City Hurricane Sally Recovery Summary as of 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21:

  • All of the city's 92 signalized intersections are working, and all city roadways should now be open to traffic. For a real-time road closure map, click here.
  • All major stormwater ponds have been pumped down successfully, and storm inlets/pipes are being cleared by city crews.
  • Damage assessments of city building facilities have been completed. The current damage estimate for city building facilities is at approximately $10 million. 
  • City Parks and Recreation facilities are currently being assessed for damages. All city community centers have been assessed for damages, along with Osceola Golf Course. The damage assessments will continue this week.
  • All 353 trees that were reported blocking city roadways have been cleared. If there is a downed tree blocking your street (within City of Pensacola limits) and it has not been cleared, please call Parks and Recreation at 850-436-5670.
  • Damage assessments of city parks and waterfront assets are currently taking place. Preliminary damage estimates are expected to be complete within the next 24 hours. The current damage estimate for city parks and waterfront assets is at approximately $10 million - $12 million.
  • Now that all reported trees have been cleared from city roadways, Parks and Recreation staff are turning their attention to cleaning up parks and athletic fields, along with working to get community centers back open. 
  • All city community centers have been assessed for damages, along with Osceola Golf Course. The damage assessments will continue this week.
  • A total of 15 crews (10 city crews and five contractor crews) began picking up debris today. More crews will be added later this week to expedite debris pickup.
  • As of Monday, Sept. 21, city crews and contractors picked up approximately 4,000 cubic yards of yard debris.
  • City staff went out with FEMA's Damage Assessment Team Monday, Sept. 21 and Tuesday, Sept. 22. The city's damage assessments with FEMA have been completed. 
  • The city distributed over 1,000 tarps Sunday, Sept. 20 at Fire Stations 1 and 6 and Monday, Sept. 21 at several city community centers. 
  • Private property damage assessment is currently at $15 million in the City of Pensacola.

311

  • The City of Pensacola’s 311 phone line is down. The city is working to restore service as soon as possible. Non-emergency requests for city services can still be made here.

Pensacola Energy

  • Pensacola Energy has completed all emergency calls for service from Hurricane Sally.
  • If you smell natural gas or see a damaged gas line, please call Pensacola Energy at 474-5307.

City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation

  • The City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department has implemented recovery efforts to assist citizens due to the impacts of Hurricane Sally. City parks, several city community resource centers and facilities were affected by the storm resulting in the following changes:

Scheduled Programming

  • All city parks will remain closed until further notice.
  • Roger Scott Tennis Center hard courts reopened Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 a.m., Clay courts will remain closed.
  • Osceola Golf Course will remain closed until further notice. Nine holes on the course and driving range are expected to reopen mid-week.
  • Exchange Park Adult Sports Leagues and Youth Sports activities at Roger Scott Athletic Complex will be postponed until further notice.
  • Vickrey Resource Center will remain closed to the public until further notice. Exception: YMCA after school programming
  • Mask distribution resumed Monday, Sept. 21, while supplies last. The locations, days and times of mask distribution are as follows (Limit five masks per household):
    • Bayview Senior Center, 2000 E. Lloyd St.: Monday-Friday from 8-10:30 a.m. and 12:30-3 p.m. (drive-through only)
    • Cobb Resource Center, 601 E. Mallory St.: Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
    • Fricker Resource Center, 900 N. F St.: Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to noon
    • Gull Point Resource Center, 7000 Spanish Trail: Monday-Thursday from 3-5 p.m.
    • Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center, 913 S. I St.: Tuesday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (drive-through only)
    • Woodland Heights Resource Center, 111 Berkley Drive: Monday-Friday from 3-5 p.m. 
  • After school snack distribution will resume Monday, Sept. 21, Monday-Friday from 3-5 p.m. at the following sites:
    • Cobb Resource Center, 601 E. Mallory St.
    • Fricker Resource Center, 900 N. F St.
    • Gull Point Resource Center, 7000 Spanish Trail
    • Woodland Heights Resource Center, 111 Berkley Drive 
  • All senior meal sites have been temporarily suspended until further notice. Impacted sites include: Bayview Senior Center, Cobb Resource Center and Fricker Resource Center. Staff will continue to work with Council on Aging to determine future dates to resume. Announcements will follow upon determination. Seniors are encouraged to contact Council on Aging at 432-1475 for alternate programming.
  • Parks and Recreation is hiring five local contractors to begin tree work in the most impacted city parks, City Hall, and medians.
  • Osceola Golf Course clearing is ongoing, with a goal of reopening nine holes and the driving range by the end of the week or this weekend.
  • Roger Scott Tennis Center has reopened the 18 hard courts and is working on getting eight of the clay courts back open.
  • Parks and Recreation is working to get Exchange Park and Roger Scott fields back in playable condition and reopened.

City of Pensacola Sanitation Services

City of Pensacola Sanitation Services will be modified this week so that every customer will receive garbage pickup twice. Customers will receive garbage pickup only (no recycling) the week of Sept. 21.

  • City of Pensacola Sanitation began garbage pickup on Monday, Sept. 21. As of Tuesday, Sept. 22, crews had collected 63 loads of garbage totaling 593 tons. 
  • City Sanitation customers who did not receive garbage pickup as scheduled may call City of Pensacola Sanitation Services at 850-435-1890 for assistance.

Garbage pickup this week will be as follows (applies to City of Pensacola Sanitation customers only):

o   Monday, Sept. 21: Monday and Tuesday customers will receive garbage pickup only.

o   Tuesday, Sept. 22: Wednesday and Thursday customers will receive garbage pickup only.

o   Wednesday, Sept. 23: Monday and Tuesday customers will receive garbage pickup only.

o   Thursday, Sept. 24: Wednesday and Thursday customers will receive garbage pickup only. 

  • The Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26 has been rescheduled due to Hurricane Sally recovery. The cleanup that was in a portion of the Scenic Heights neighborhood and Spanish Trail area will now take place on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Debris Pickup

  • Starting Monday, Sept. 21, City of Pensacola Sanitation began to pick up yard debris on residents' curbside.
  • Please do not place yard debris in plastic garbage bags. Yard debris that is already bagged at the curb will be collected, but the plastic bags prevent the debris from being processed as yard waste. Yard debris should be placed curbside either loose or in paper bags.  
  • If items are not collected on the first pass, please push them to the curb and they will be collected on the second pass. 
  • In order to remove debris as efficiently as possible, City of Pensacola Sanitation is requesting that residents separate debris into six different categories on the curb: 
  • Electronics such as televisions, computers, stereos, phones and DVD players.
  • Large appliances such as refrigerators, washer/dryers, air conditioners, stoves, water heaters and dishwashers.
  • Hazardous waste such as oil, battery, pesticide, paint, cleaning supplies and compressed gas. 
  • Vegetative debris such as tree branches, leaves, logs and plants.
  • Construction debris such as building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture and plumbing.
  • Household garbage such as bagged garbage, discarded food, paper and packaging. 
  • As of Tuesday, Sept. 22, crews have picked up 226 loads of yard debris totaling over 9,000 cubic yards since Monday.
  • Debris pickup area maps are being added to the City of Pensacola's Facebook page as they are finalized with contractors.

Debris should not block the roadway and should avoid trees, poles, and other structures. The public's patience is appreciated during this time, as crews will be working diligently to remove debris as safely and efficiently as possible. 

This only applies to City of Pensacola sanitation customers. 

Recycling

  • Due to significant damage from Hurricane Sally at the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority's Materials Recycling Facility, recycling for City of Pensacola Sanitation customers is temporarily on hold.
  • City of Pensacola Sanitation Services Department uses ECUA's recycling facility to process recyclable materials from City Sanitation customers, and the facility is not accepting recyclables until further notice due to the damage sustained during the storm.
  • City of Pensacola Sanitation customers are asked to only use their black garbage cans until further notice since materials will not be recycled.
  • Recycling is expected to resume late October, but will be dependent on when repairs to the facility are completed and ECUA is able to accept recyclable materials.

Pensacola International Airport

  • Pensacola International Airport reopened at noon on Friday, Sept. 18, to commercial air traffic. The PNS operations team has worked with all airport partners to ensure the airport is safe and secure in order to resume normal operations.
  • This determination comes after extensive coordination with TSA, airlines, parking, Air Traffic Control and security teams.
  • While the airport facilities are open, passengers will need to work with their airline to determine flight schedules and availability. Many flights may still be canceled, and it may take a couple of days for the airlines to resume their normal operations.
  • Passengers are reminded to continue to adhere to the safety precautions put in place due to COVID-19. Masks are still required to be worn, and passengers are asked to maintain appropriate distancing while at the airport.
  • For more information about Pensacola International Airport, visit flypensacola.com.

Port of Pensacola

  • Following Corp of Engineer's surveys of the Pensacola pass and Caucus Channel, the Port of Pensacola was opened to vessel traffic Sunday, Sept. 20. Landslide operations resumed Thursday, Sept. 17, with power restored to all terminals and facilities on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Community Health Northwest Florida

All Community Health Northwest Florida sites will be open for patient care 9/21 and Tuesday 9/22, resuming regular business hours with the following exceptions:

  • Pediatric Convenient Care and Jordan Street Walk-in Care will close at 6PM.
  • CHNWF Pediatric Care Clinic at C.A. Weis Elementary School will remain closed.
  • CHNWF Adult Care Clinic at Waterfront Rescue Mission will remain closed.
  • Monday's COVID-19 mobile testing at W. Jackson Street is cancelled.
  • Community Health Northwest Florida’s Covid-19 mobile testing events on Wednesday 9/23 at Cantonment Pediatrics and Friday 9/25 at Brownsville Community Center have been suspended. All regularly scheduled M, W, F mobile testing sites are expected to resume operations next week.

Cox Communications

·Cox crews from around the Southeast have restored services to thousands of Cox customers since Hurricane Sally made landfall. Teams are reconnecting our network around the clock, and we will have more than 90% of Gulf Coast customers restored by the end of the day. The large majority of customers that still don’t have service are located in Myrtle Grove and along Lillian Highway in Southwest Escambia County, portions of Cantonment, Perdido Key and other small pockets where our infrastructure was more heavily damaged and, in some cases, are not easily accessible. We are currently on scene of the damaged fiber optic network areas and expect more customers to come online over the next several hours.

Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller

  • The MC Blanchard Judicial Building remains closed through Friday September 25th due to damage from Hurricane Sally. Clerk of Court personnel are working and answering phones with all systems operational. Access to the Theodore Bruno Juvenile Justice Building remains restricted due to COVID-19. All other Clerk offices are open to walk-in customers. Refer to our website, escambiaclerk.com, regarding COVID-19 restrictions and to obtain department phone numbers. Clerk’s e-services are also available on our website. 
  • Mon. Sept. 28, 2020 – Observance of Yom Kippur Due to the First Judicial Circuit courts being closed in observance of Yom Kippur, the Clerk’s court offices at the MC Blanchard Judicial Building, Theodore Bruno Juvenile Justice Building, Public Records Center, and the Century Courthouse will be closed Monday, September 28, 2020. Clerk’s Official Records, Finance and Clerk to the Board offices, located at 221 Palafox Place, will be open. 

ECAT

·ECAT began running regular modified service starting Tuesday, Sept. 22. The following routes will be temporarily suspended until further notice:

• Route 41, East Pensacola Heights

• Route 59A, NAS Pensacola, airport

• Route 59X, NAS Pensacola, downtown, Cordova Mall

• Route 61, Pensacola Beach

• Route 64, Beach Jumper

Buses may experience possible traffic delays due to detours and debris. Buses will run every two hours, with the final routes departing ECAT and downtown at 6 p.m. The same modified schedule will run Saturdays. UWF Trolley Service will resume service on Thursday, Sept. 24. 

·Escambia County Community Transportation Paratransit services resumed Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Emerald Coast Utilities Authority

  • The Boardwalk at the ECUA Bayou Marcus Water Reclamation Facility was not severely damaged by Hurricane Sally but is impassable due to a significant amount of downed trees and vegetation. Consequently, the Boardwalk is now closed to public access while inspections and assessments are performed and the considerable clean-up effort is completed.
  • Effective immediately, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is issuing a system-wide Precautionary Boil Water Notice (PBWN) to its water system customers. This notice is in response to the significant and wide-spread damages sustained from Hurricane Sally. ECUA crews are already out in the field working to locate, isolate, and repair main breaks in order to restore service as quickly as possible. Although the majority of our customers remain in service, there are too many main breaks that require a PBWN for it to be practical to issue separate notices during this initial emergency response. Once the number of pending repairs is significantly reduced, the ECUA will revert to issuing separate notices for individual areas. We ask for our customers’ patience and understanding as we work to repair hundreds of breaks, giving priority to our hospitals, dialysis centers, and other critical care facilities.
  • Residents are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use 8 drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes.
  • More information on precautionary boil water notice and key guidelines are available on the ECUA website at ecua.fl.gov/live-green/our-water-supply
  • The Water Reclamation Plant on Pensacola Beach is back online. Our crews are working to locate, isolate, and repair water and sewer main breaks on the beach in order to fully restore services. The system-wide precautionary boil water notice will apply to Pensacola Beach once water service is restored.
  • We ask all residents to make sure their garbage cans are not full of storm water. Please take a few minutes to check them and empty them out. The water makes them too heavy for the automated truck arm to pick them up.
  • The ECUA water system is now pressurized to the point that allows us to begin our sampling protocol, with approval from our partners at FDEP. We have several sampling teams that have begun an aggressive sampling program throughout our service area. 
  • This effort is usually completed over the course of one month but our teams will be working to complete this over the course of approximately 72 hours, to expedite the process required to lift the Precautionary Boil Water Notice. 
  • At this time, our expectation is to begin clearing portions of our system within 3 to 4 days. As our sampling effort unfolds, we will have more accurate projections and issue that information as it becomes available.
  • There are approximately 98 lift stations without power.
  • Water Boil notices will be rescinded when within FDEP limits. 
  • ECUA phones are finally back in service but are experiencing an extremely high volume, which may make it difficult to get through. Customers are urged to check the Call Center Activity Counter on our  website to determine the best time to call by following this link: https://ecua.fl.gov/ecua-call-center-stats Our customer service number at (850) 476-0480, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 pm. and the emergency after hours number is (850) 476-5110. Thanks to Cox Communications for working hard to get us back up and we are extra grateful for all the volunteers in the Citizens' Information Center at the County's EOC for handling calls while our phone lines were down.
  • As residents work to clean up their properties and put storm debris out for collection, whether by City or County contractors, we urge you to please remember to place all debris well away from their water meter. This will help protect it from being damaged or impaired by the mechanical equipment used to collect the debris. 
  • ECUA is on a normal trash collection schedule. Recycling is temporarily suspended and debris pickup efforts will start Wednesday, Sept. 23.

·The separately-issued Precautionary Boil Water Notice –PBWN- for the Kings Road Subdivision has been lifted.

·Sanitation collection is back on normal schedule for garbage collection. Recycling collections are on hold; Yard waste collections are limited and we ask that customers bag their yard waste or place it in a designated yard waste can. We are using yard waste trucks to collect excess bagged garbage while our garbage trucks are being used to pick up and empty garbage cans. The separate trucks will not necessarily be collecting from your home at the same time. We are also resuming pickup of usual bulk items if they are placed at the curb. This is for usual bulk household items and NOT for household storm debris. Storm debris is being coordinated and picked up by contractors working on behalf of Escambia County. Please visit their website for specific storm debris collection information.

·Our Recycling Facility sustained approximately $800K of damage, which is substantial and will require some time for recovery. The building contractor is already on site, has completed inspections, and is ready to begin rehabilitation work. At this time, our early estimates point to having the facility back in service at the end of October.

·Effective immediately, the Precautionary Boil Water Notice-PBWN- issued by the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority on 9-21-20, as a result of Hurricane Sally for the following area has been LIFTED. Results of all independent bacteriological samples have returned as clear.

·E. Mallory St. between N. 16th Ave. & N 20th Ave.

·E. Lloyd between N. 16th Ave. & N. 20th Ave.

·E. Moreno St. between N. 16th Ave. & N 20th Ave.

·E. Blount St. between N. 16th Ave. & N 20th Ave.

·E. Lee between N. 16th Ave. & N 20th Ave.

·N. 16th Ave. between E. Mallory St. and E. Lloyd St.

·N. 17th Ave. between E. Mallory St. and E. Lloyd St.

·N. 18th Ave. between E. Mallory St. and E. Lloyd St.

·N. 19th Ave. between E. Mallory St. and E Lloyd St.

·N. 20th Ave. between E. Mallory St. and E. Lloyd St.

Escambia County Animal Services

  • The state ESF-17 and Escambia County Animal Services has requested and received all of the assistance we need from The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). We do not need further assistance from other organizations.

·Beware of scams. We would encourage people not to donate to any animal rescue organizations for this event. It is common for people to solicit donations for assisting animals during disaster, post photos from the area that are not theirs and never even be in the area.

·With the help of the Humane Society and the Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter, the Escambia County Animal Shelter was able to successfully relocate close to 100 animals who were available for adoption.

  • Because these animals are being relocated as they search for their forever homes the Escambia County Animal Shelter has space to keep lost animals safe until their owners come to reclaim them. Overall, the Manager of Animal Services John Robinson would like to say “Well done” to all residents of Escambia County for the amount of responsibility shown in properly caring for their four-legged family members throughout Hurricane Sally.

Escambia County School District

  • Superintendent Malcolm Thomas has announced all schools and offices will be closed Monday September 21 and Tuesday September 22.
  • Maintenance, Custodial and Facilities staff members have been busy assessing all schools. This is a dynamic situation with focus on power, water and road conditions. The Special Board meeting (Budget meeting) will happen Monday at 5:01 in Room 160 in the J. E. Hall Center and the Regular Meeting will start at 5:30. Mr. Thomas is planning to participate in today’s County press conference at 4:00 pm.
  • Superintendent Malcolm Thomas has announced that all schools and district administrative buildings will resume normal operations on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. All district employees are to report to their work sites at their normally scheduled time on Wednesday. “The timely return of staff members and students has been made possible by the hard work of dedicated district employees, in partnership with local agencies,” states Superintendent Thomas, “while many district facilities sustained substantial damage, repairs are being handled safely and expeditiously.”
  • Currently an inspection of all athletic facilities and fields is being conducted by district administrators, high school principals, coaches and athletic directors. For those campuses with viable athletic facilities and fields, high school athletic practices may resume after 12:00 noon on Tuesday, September 22, 2020.

Superintendent Thomas will continue to provide updates via automated calls to parents and employees, and also via local media sources and the district website.

Escambia County Tax Collector's Office

  • All four Escambia County Tax Collector offices are OPEN regular business hours.

Supervisor of Elections

  • The Supervisor of Elections Office reopened to the public on Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 a.m. You may visit us in person at 213 Palafox Place, second floor, by phone at 850- 595-3900, via email at soe@EscambiaVotes.com, or on the web at EscambiaVotes.gov.
  • Check our website and follow us on social media for updates.

The Property Appraiser

  • The Property Appraiser’s offices are OPEN for our regular business hours.

Feeding the Gulf Coast

    9/21/2020

    8:30 AM

    Pensacola Caring Hearts

    2105 W Gregory Street

    Pensacola

    32502

    FL

    Escambia

    9/22/2020

    9:00 AM

    Career Source Gulf Coast

    733 N Highway 231

    Panama City

    32405

    FL

    Bay

    9/22/2020

    3:00 PM

    Cantonment Improvement Committee

    208 Webb Street

    Cantonment

    32533

    FL

    Escambia

    9/23/2020

    9:00 AM

    Talbot Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church

    425 North Reus Street

    Pensacola

    32501

    FL

    Escambia

    9/24/2020

    11:30 AM

    Eastgate Christian Fellowship

    7145 Highway 98

    Panama City

    32407

    FL

    Bay

    9/26/2020

    8:00 AM

    Ferry Pass Community Corporation

    8350 Caminitti Lane

    Pensacola

    32514

    FL

    Escambia

    9/26/2020

    8:00 AM

    Bethel AME

    511 Woodlands Drive

    Pensacola

    32503

    FL

    Escambia

    9/26/2020

    9:00 AM

    Christ Church Parish

    500 N. Guillemard Street

    Pensacola

    32501

    FL

    Escambia

    9/26/2020

    12:00 PM

    Crosspoint United Methodist Church

    214 Partin Drive South

    Niceville

    32578

    FL

    Okaloosa

    9/28/2020

    10:00 AM

    Alabama-West Florida Conference of the UMC

    6915 Highway North

    Molino

    32587

    FL

    Escambia

    9/29/2020

    10:00 AM

    Alabama-West Florida Conference of the UMC

    5983 Dogwood Drive

    Milton

    32570

    FL

    Santa Rosa

    10/1/2020

    10:00 AM

    Alabama-West Florida Conference of the UMC

    301 E Winthrop Avenue

    Pensacola

    32507

    FL

    Escambia

    10/5/2020

    10:00 AM

    Alabama-West Florida Conference of the UMC

    4540 Chumuckla Hwy

    Pace

    32571

    FL

    Santa Rosa

    10/6/2020

    5:00 PM

    CDAC Behavioral Healthcare

    3100 W De Soto Street

    Pensacola

    32505

    FL

    Escambia

    10/6/2020

    5:00 PM

    CDAC Behavioral Healthcare

    5629 Byrom Street

    Milton

    32570

    FL

    Santa Rosa

    10/8/2020

    9:00 AM

    Christ Church Parish

    500 N. Guillemard Street

    Pensacola

    32501

    FL

    Escambia

    10/10/2020

    8:00 AM

    Eastside Baptist Church

    3385 Roche Ave

    Vernon

    32462

    FL

    Washington

    First Judicial Circuit

    ·ESCAMBIA COUNTY

    County Court arraignment dates from Sept. 15, 16, and 17 will now be heard on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 101.

    County Court arraignment dates from Sept. 21, 22, 23, and 24 will now be heard on Friday, Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 101.

    Felony arraignment dates from Sept. 17 and 18 will now be heard on Friday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. in Courtroom 101.

    Division 1 (Judge Charles Young)

    Plea day hearings for in-custody defendants originally scheduled for Sept. 15 are now scheduled to be heard in video court immediately following first appearance hearings (approximately 3 p.m.) on Friday, Oct. 2.

    Plea day hearings for out-of-custody defendants originally scheduled for Sept. 15 are now scheduled to be heard on Friday, Oct. 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Violation of probation hearings for in-custody defendants originally scheduled for Sept. 17 are now scheduled to be heard in video court immediately following first appearance hearings (approximately 3 p.m.) on Thursday, Oct. 8.

    Division 2 (Judge Kerra Smith)

    Plea day hearings for in-custody defendants originally scheduled for Sept. 22 are now scheduled to be heard in video court on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 8:15 to 10:15 a.m.

    Plea day hearings for out-of-custody defendants originally scheduled for Sept. 22 are now scheduled to be heard on Thursday, Oct. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Division E (Judge Jan Shackelford)

    Violation of probation hearings for in-custody defendants previously scheduled for Sept. 22 are now scheduled to be heard by ZOOM on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

    Docket day hearings for out-of-custody defendants previously scheduled for Sept. 16 will be held on Monday, Oct. 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Division F (Judge Thomas Dannheisser)

    Violation of probation hearings for in-custody defendants previously scheduled for Sept. 16 will now be held in video court on Monday, Oct. 5 from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.

    Docket day hearings for out-of-custody defendants previously scheduled for Sept. 23 will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Division J (Judge Coleman Lee Robinson)

    Violation of probation hearings for in-custody defendants previously scheduled for Sept. 21 are now scheduled to be heard by ZOOM on Friday, Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon.

    Florida Department of Transportation

    Chipley, Fla. – Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities

    Escambia County:

    • Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – For the latest information visit FDOT.gov/PensacolaBay.
    • U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) – Drivers traveling Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass and the U.S. 29 traffic between I-10 and 9 1/ 2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane shifts or closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
    • East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Safety Project from North Palafox Street to Chemstrand Road – Motorists will encounter intermittent nighttime lane closures as crews continue construction activities.
    • West Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Construction Activities West of I-10 – Motorists will encounter an intermittent, westbound lane closure from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28 through Friday, Oct. 9 as crews perform curb and gutter work in preparation for paving of the new turn lane.
    • U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of Muscogee Road (County Road 184) to Atmore Highway (State Road (S.R.) 97)- Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions as crews continue construction activities at various locations.
    • Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road (S.R. 295) - Construction activities continue. Drivers can expect lane closures between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.

    Santa Rosa County:

    • Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – For the latest information visit FDOT.gov/PensacolaBay.
    • S.R. 87 Resurfacing from Clear Creek to S.R. 4- Drivers can expect intermittent daytime lane closures along the 14-mile corridor through fall 2020 as crews perform paving operations.
    • S.R. 4 Routine Bridge Inspection over Big Juniper Creek – Motorists will encounter intermittent eastbound lane closures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 as crews perform a routine bridge inspection.
    • S.R. 87 North Underground Utility Operations from Park Avenue to S.R. 89 – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 through Saturday, Oct. 3 as crews perform underground utility repairs.

    All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

    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.

    Infrastructure Branch

    FDOT cleared the following bridges for traffic and are functioning:

    • Longleaf at Bayou Marcus
    • Marcus Pointe at Crescent Lake 
    • Bauer Rd at Unnamed Branch 
    • Beula Rd at Unnamed Branch 
    • Cantonment Athletic at Unnamed Branch 
    • Fairground Road at Wilder Branch
    • Schaag Rd at Branch of Jacks Brand 

    ·Theo Baars bridge is open to residents.

    ·County officials are mobilizing crews for Bob Sikes bridge reconstruction efforts and hope to start early this week. Traffic will continue within one lane in each direction along the northbound bridge with restricted speeds until further notice. Southbound bridge will remain closed until further notice.

    ·Florida Department of Transportation FDOT Secretary Kevin J. Thibault, P.E. has directed Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) to further extend the toll suspension on the Garcon Point Bridge, pursuant to Executive Order 20-225. The extended suspension is in effect until 6 a.m. Friday, October 23, 2020.

    • Out-of-town Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key property owners should wait to check on their properties due to limited access, power and water. Very few stores or retail establishments are open. Law enforcement is patrolling the areas.

    Florida Department of Health in Escambia County

    ·As Gulf Coast Counties work to recover from Hurricane Sally, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) is urging residents to not consume water under a boil water notice. At this time, water in Gulf Coast Counties may be unsafe for drinking and without electricity, residents are unable to boil water to decontaminate. Further, due to the storm, the overall sanitary conditions have been significantly impacted.

    ·DOH reminds residents to avoid contact with stray pets and wildlife. After storm events such as Hurricane Sally, pets may be displaced. Any loose pet may be lost, frightened, or hurt – and more likely to bite. Even animals that are usually friendly may bite if they are scared or hurt.

    ·As the Florida counties impacted by Hurricane Sally continue to clean up, the Florida Department of Health reminds everyone to do their part in preventing mosquito breeding and mosquito-borne illness. All Florida residents and visitors are asked to Drain and Cover to help keep our families and neighbors safe

    ·The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) is continuing specimen collection for COVID-19 offered to Florida residents. The primary focus is virus testing from swab samples to help identify those who are COVID positive and that need contact tracing. This effort is part of the continuing public health surveillance and monitoring for COVID-19 that is occurring across the state.

    Florida Division Of Emergency Management

    • The Division has deployed 50 trucks with light towers to support power restoration efforts and traffic movement through overnight hours.
    • The Division has deployed 972,000 bottles of water and 179,000 meals to provide critical relief to Floridians impacted by Hurricane Sally.
    • The Division supported nine general population shelters with PPE shelter kits and has established five non-congregate shelters for individuals with underlying conditions or who are COVID-19 positive.
    • The Division has staged more than 200 generators and 100 pumps that are being deployed into impacted areas to assist with power outages and flooding.
    • The Division is coordinating with the Florida Highway Patrol to provide law enforcement escorts for fuel trucks and utility crews as they move into Escambia County today.
    • More information regarding the Division’s response is available here.

    ·Overnight, the Division arranged law enforcement escorts for 50 fuel trucks that delivered 450,000 gallons of fuel. Another 52 trucks are coming into the area throughout the day today and will receive law enforcement escorts.

    ·The Division of Emergency Management is also working with FHP to provide law enforcement escorts for utility crews.

    ·To date, power has been restored to more than 120,000 homes in the area – 45% of homes impacted have had their power restored.

    ·Florida Division of Emergency Management/ FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency field personnel are teaming up with Escambia County staff to assist with damage assessments. 

    ·Engineering design will be completed today. Construction is expected to start Tuesday with debris removal, followed by reconstruction starting on north side of bridge. 

    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 142,000 households without power.
    • Gulf Power has safely restored service to essentially all of its customers who were affected by Hurricane Sally, completing restoration ahead of original estimates.
    • Customers who still do not have power should first check their breakers. If this is not the issue, they should report the outage on the Gulf Power App, online at GulfPower.com or using the automated system at 1-800-GU-POWER (800-487-6937).

    Escambia River Electric Cooperative, Inc.

    ·Power restoration to the EREC membership following Hurricane Sally is now complete. Every member able to receive electricity has had their power restored. We thank our membership for their patience and tremendous show of support as our line crews worked to restore power as safely and quickly as possible. We thank our fellow cooperatives who sent their line crews to assist us in our time of need to rebuild our battered system. We are proud to be a part of the cooperative family. Together, we are cooperative strong.

    Governor's Press Office

    ·(COVID-19 news) Today, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-244, moving all of Florida’s 67 counties into Phase 3.

    Executive Order 20-244 does the following:

    Removes state-level restrictions on businesses, such as restaurants.

    Provides that no COVID-19 emergency ordinance may prevent an individual from working or operating a business, giving Floridians and business owners needed certainty and the ability to provide for themselves and their families.

    Provides that restaurants may not be limited by a COVID-19 emergency order by any local government to less than 50% of their indoor capacity. If a restaurant is limited to less than 100% of its indoor capacity, such COVID-19 emergency order must satisfy the following:

    • Quantify the economic impact of each limitation or requirements on those restaurants; and
    •  Explain why each limitation or requirement is necessary for public health.

    Suspends all outstanding fines and penalties, and the collection of such moving forward, applied against individuals related to COVID-19. 

    ·Governor Ron DeSantis announced the approval of a major disaster declaration for Hurricane Sally from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The declaration can be found here.

    ·The declaration includes public assistance for all categories in Escambia County and public assistance Category B (emergency protective measures) for Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties. The Florida Division of Emergency Management remains in close contact with FEMA to help additional counties receive the declaration for full public assistance.

    ·FDEM is continuing to conduct damage assessments in the 12 counties that did not receive all categories of Public Assistance. The Division is also conducting damage assessments at individual residences and businesses and will continue to work with FEMA to apply for Individual Assistance.

    ·Yesterday, Governor DeSantis activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to support small businesses impacted by Hurricane Sally. More information can be found here.

    ·For more information on Hurricane Sally and available resources, visit floridadisaster.org/info.

    · On Sept. 23, Governor Ron DeSantis activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program to support small businesses impacted by Hurricane Sally. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity administers the Emergency Bridge Loan program that provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced physical damage or economic injury during Hurricane Sally. The application period opened today and runs through November 14, 2020, or until the available funds are expended.

    ·DEO administers the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program in partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Centers Network and Florida First Capital Finance Corporation to provide cash flow to businesses damaged by a disaster. The short-term, zero-interest loans help bridge the gap between the time damage is incurred and when long-term funding is secured, including Small Business Administration or commercially available loans, insurance claims or other resources. Up to $5 million has been allocated for the program.

    ·Small business owners with two to 100 employees located in Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties affected by Hurricane Sally can apply for short-term loans up to $50,000, or in special cases $100,000, if warranted by the needs of the business.

    ·DEO is currently surveying businesses in the affected counties through the Florida Business Damage Assessment Survey. To access the survey, please visit www.FloridaDisaster.biz and select “Hurricane Sally” from the drop down menu. Response to the damage assessment is not an application for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan.

    ·To apply or to learn more about the eligibility requirements for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, visit www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL

    ·For questions regarding the Emergency Bridge Loan program, contact DEO at 833-832-4494 or email EmergencyBridgeLoan@deo.myflorida.com

    NAS Pensacola

    • Following the aftermath of Hurricane Sally, Naval Air Station Pensacola is currently at Condition of Readiness (COR) V as of Thursday, Sept. 17.
    • Access to the base remains only for mission essential personnel or base residents until further notice. COR V is the lowest condition of hurricane readiness. Destructive force winds (50 mph) are not expected. 
    • Damage assessment continues onboard NAS Pensacola following the hurricane and more information will be provided in the near future.
    • Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast dispatched 11 civilian personnel and one military officer from Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, today, as part of a CERT to help survey damage caused by Hurricane Sally onboard NAS Pensacola.
    • There is currently a boil water notice for NAS Pensacola and Corry Station until further notice.
    • NAS Pensacola opened an Emergency Family Assistance Center (EFAC) at noon on Monday, September 21, at the Corry Chapel. Afterwards, the EFAC will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to assist those impacted by Hurricane Sally.
    • Representatives from Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, Red Cross, Legal, Housing, Balfour Beatty, Chapel, Fleet and Family Support Center, and others can assist with emergency case management needs to augment services provided by NFAAS case managers. For more information, please call the FFSC at 850-452-5990 or the Corry Chapel at 850-452-6376. Face coverings are required.

    Pensacola Area Chamber Of Commerce

    Operations at the Pensacola fuel terminal are fully staffed and operating but still not fully effective due to some long loading terminal lines, some road traffic and bridge closures. Florida Highway Police/local police escorts were provided last night for one site due to street closure. Our facility has power and media indicates they are expecting power to be mostly restored for Pensacola by Monday.

    For businesses having issues with insurance claims, visit PrepareFL.com for information or call the CFO Helpline at 1-877-693-5236. To report price gouging, call the Attorney General's Price Gouging Hotline at 1-866-966-7226.

    If you have received damage to your homes, businesses or properties due to Hurricane Sally, we encourage you to send any pictures of damage to news@pensacolachamber.com and leave your name and address.

    Store openings/closings

    • Publix:https://ww4.publix.com/pages/publix-storm-basics/publix-store-status
    • Winn-Dixie: https://www.winndixie.com/weather-update
    • Home Depot: https://corporate.homedepot.com/hurricane-sally-store-status
    • Lowes: https://corporate.lowes.com/newsroom/stories/hurricane-sally-store-hours-closings
    • All Targets are open until 7 p.m. and have limited dry groceries.
    • All Publix stores are open. Hours vary depending on location and supplies.
    • All Lowes and Home Depot stores are open operating from 6 a.m. until curfew.
    • All Wal-Marts and Wal-Mart Markets are open.
    • Walgreens 6314 N 9th Ave Open 24 hours · (850) 479-2544 Pharmacy: Open ⋅ Closes 1:30AM
    • Walgreens 700 N Pace Blvd Open ⋅ Closes 9PM · (850) 432-3307
    • Walgreens 870 E Cervantes St Open ⋅ Closes 12AM · (850) 434-5561 Pharmacy: Closed
    • Walgreens 1841 E Olive Rd Open ⋅ Closes 10PM · (850) 478-5241
    • Walgreens 4497 Mobile Hwy Open ⋅ Closes 10PM · (850) 453-4848
    • Walgreens 5995 Mobile Hwy Open ⋅ Closes 9PM · (850) 454-0254
    • Walgreens 20 W 9 Mile Rd Open ⋅ Closes 10PM · (850) 479-2354
    • Walgreens 2237 W 9 Mile Rd Open ⋅ Closes 10PM · (850) 473-0286
    • Walgreens Pharmacy at Sacred Heart Hospital 5149 N 9th Ave Ste 1137 Open ⋅ Closes 6PM · (850) 477-7568
    • Walgreens Pharmacy 6314 N 9th Ave Open ⋅ Closes 1:30AM · (850) 479-2544
    • CVS 3880 N 9th Ave Open ⋅ Closes 9PM · (850) 433-6794 Pharmacy: Open ⋅ Closes 8PM
    • CVS 2100 W Cervantes St Open ⋅ Closes 9PM · (850) 438-1156
    • CVS 1101 Scenic Hwy Open ⋅ Closes 10PM · (850) 438-0776 Pharmacy: Open ⋅ Closes 8PM
    • CVS 6888 N 9th Ave Open 24 hours · (850) 476-0710
    • CVS 8100 N Davis Hwy Open ⋅ Closes 9PM · (850) 477-2466
    • CVS 6025 Mobile Hwy Open ⋅ Closes 9PM · (850) 458-9818
    • CVS 811 North W Fairfield Dr Open ⋅ Closes 9PM · (850) 453-3208
    • CVS 1 E 9 Mile Rd Open ⋅ Closes 9PM · (850) 475-1000
    • CVS Gulf Breeze, FL · In Dolphin Square Open ⋅ Closes 12AM · (850) 934-0030 Pharmacy: Open ⋅ Closes 10PM
    • CVS 13430 Innerarity Point Rd Open ⋅ Closes 10PM · (850) 492-3800
    • CVS Pharmacy 6888 N 9th Ave Open 24 hours · (850) 476-0710
    • FloridaDisaster.Biz Open/Close Status: https://www.floridadisaster.biz/BusinessOpenCloseStatus

    For more information about assignment of benefits, Go to Preparefl.com or call 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236). Make sure you read and understand anything in writing before you sign any document. You may potentially be signing away certain rights with decisions by insurance companies.

    Peoples Water Service Company of Florida

    • Peoples Water Service Company of Florida, Inc. has rescinded/canceled the system wide Precautionary Boil Water Notice after receiving confirmation that of the samples collected and tested indicated No presence of harmful bacteria. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact (850) 791-4127

    The Santa Rosa Island Authority 

    • The Santa Rosa Island Authority regular scheduled committee meeting for Wednesday, Sept. 23, has been postponed to Wednesday, Sept. 30.
    • The Santa Rosa Island Authority will be opening to the leaseholders/public on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
    • All lanes of Garcon Point Bridge are now open.
    • The Pensacola Beach Annual Pass Sales Office located at the Santa Rosa Island Authority is now open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Waste Services

    ·Escambia County is continuing its recovery process in the wake of Hurricane Sally. To assist residents and the County’s commercial haulers in the process of disposal of waste and storm debris, Perdido Landfill Operations will be open on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Escambia County Waste Services Department at 850-937-2160.

    ·Escambia County authorized three private contractors to begin debris removal in the unincorporated County beginning on Wednesday, 9/23. The county expects that the contractors will provide a full and complete first pass for debris removal in the next couple of weeks. Contracted county crews will also be providing targeted services related to the removal of hazardous hanging limbs and dangerous leaning trees.

    ·As of the completion of debris operations on Thursday, 9/24, Escambia County contractors had completed the following:

    1. Collection of vegetative debris: 47,332 cubic yards
    2. Hazardous hanging limbs: 391 limbs
    3. Dangerous leaning trees: 54 trees
    • Vegetative material collected from Escambia County right-of-way is being staged at permitted debris management sites. This material will be ground to chipped material with the intent of recycling it for beneficial use such as boiler fuel, landfill cover, land application, etc. Construction and demolition material is being hauled to facilities permitted to accept the waste.
    • Escambia County contractors will make multiple passes through neighborhoods and along county right-of-way for debris removal. If your debris is not removed during the first pass please be patient. The crews will make additional passes along your road. In addition, the county will notify residents well in advance of the last day to place debris on the right-of-way for county contractor collection.
    • Hurricane Sally debris drop off sites are open for Escambia County residents only and will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 a.m., until further notice. Residents need to bring ID and proof of residency. News Release
    • The residential drop off sites are only accepting vegetative debris generated by Hurricane Sally. This is for private, residential use only, NO COMMERCIAL DEBRIS. Please leave construction and demolition debris, household hazardous waste and bulky waste at the curbside for right of way pickup. View a map of drop off locations here. 
    • Escambia County residents can also place any storm-generated debris on the public right of way.
    • The public right of way is the area of residential property that extends from the street to the sidewalk, ditch, utility pole or easement. Residents are urged to separate the debris as follows:

    ·Vegetative Debris (whole trees, tree stumps, tree branches, tree trunks and other leafy material)

    ·Construction and Demolition Debris (damaged components of buildings and structures such lumber and wood, wall board, glass, metal, roofing materials, tile, furnishings, and fixtures)

    ·Appliances and White Goods (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, heat pumps, ovens, ranges, washing machines, clothes dryers and water heaters)

    ·Electronic Waste (computers, televisions, office electronic equipment, etc.)

    ·Household Hazardous Waste (materials that are ignitable, reactive, toxic or corrosive such as paints, cleaners, pesticides, etc.)

    ·Only loose debris will be collected; bagged debris should not be placed on the public right of way. Make every attempt to avoid stacking debris below low hanging power or utility lines.

    Do not place debris within four feet of:

    • Mailboxes
    • Water meters
    • Fire hydrants
    • any other above-ground utility

    Only debris placed on the public right of way will be eligible for collection until further notice.

    If all debris is not picked up during the initial pass, please continue to push remaining debris to the right of way for collection on subsequent passes. 

    West Florida Public Libraries

    • All libraries are OPEN for normal operating hours. For a list of library branches and hours, please visit https://mywfpl.com/visit/locations
    • Curbside pickup of materials resumes Monday, Sept. 28. Please continue to check our website at MyWFPL.com for a future opening date. 
    • The Library Board of Governance has canceled their meeting to be held at the Pensacola Library for this coming Monday and rescheduled it for Oct. 12 at 4 p.m. at the Pensacola Library. 

    The American Red Cross

    BRACE- Be Ready Alliance

    ·1,125 Helping Hands volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints went right to work cleaning up homes in Alabama and Florida on the heels of Hurricane Sally. The first weekend of disaster relief efforts saw 553 work orders (1 order = 1 home) and completed over 14,518 work-hours. More than 3,000 volunteers from Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Alabama and Georgia will be working again this weekend, making an even more significant impact.

    ·Work orders are generated through the Crisis CleanUp Hotline within hours following the storm. Those needing help with cleanup at their homes can call the hotline at 800-451-1954 and be put on a list. This enables volunteers from many relief organizations to know where they were needed. Services are offered free of charge. The hotline will remain open through October 9, 2020.

    United Way

    • For people living outside the northwest Florida area seeking information on resources for friends and family members post Hurricane Sally may access the direct dial number to reach 211 Northwest Florida - regardless of where they live!
    • They can either dial the toll free number of 855-420-8689 or visit www.211.org and enter the city and state for the area they are seeking information on.

    UWF

    ·UWF is continuing to assess damage from Hurricane Sally. A licensed drone operator will be on the Pensacola campus Saturday, Sept. 26, gathering aerial footage of buildings, nature trails and other UWF facilities.

    ·The University is reopened; however, it is advised to take caution when traveling to UWF locations. The nature trails on UWF’s Pensacola Campus remain closed due to debris.

    ·For more information, visit the University’s Weather Frequently Asked Questions at www.uwf.edu/weatherFAQ. 

    Pensacola State College

    ·Pensacola State College will resume normal operations on Monday, Sept. 28, which will include face-to-face and virtual classes.

    ·All buildings will be open on the Milton campus, South Santa Rosa Center and Century Center.

    ·The Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts (Building 15) and the theater in Ashmore Auditorium (Building 8) on the Pensacola campus are closed. The WSRE Studio sustained substantial roof damage. However, WSRE programming is still on the air. The Jean and Paul Amos Performance Studio also is closed.

    ·All buildings on the Warrington campus will be open with the exception of the large lecture hall in Building 3000 (the Auditorium) and Building 3300 (Public Safety and Testing).

    ·The PSC Downtown Center will be closed between four to six months for repairs. 

    Generator Safety Tips and Precautions

    • It is important that generators be operated properly. Do not operate gas generators indoors because of carbon monoxide. Please follow this link for more information and to learn the dangers of carbon monoxide. http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2020/09/091520-carbon-monoxide-dangers.pr.html
    • Do not drive or walk through standing water. Power lines could be down and cause electrocution.
    • 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.

    Storm Debris Burning

    • Burning large debris left from a hurricane can be dangerous. Many residents open windows to get air circulation in their homes due to power outages, and burning large trees and limbs as well as other debris, creates large amounts of smoke which can travel into homes.
    • Burning insulation and roofing creates very toxic smoke.
    • Burning large trees and limbs and branches can also create sparks that go airborne and land on your home.
    • Burn laws are still in place before, during, and after a hurricane. Know your local burn ordinance.
    • Children should never be allowed to burn debris and should leave any type of burning to an adult.

    Tips on choosing a contractor:

    News release encouraging residents to be cautious of unlicensed contractors 

    For storm-related repairs, permitting fees are waived; however, permits and land use approvals are still required.

    • Ask to see their license and call the appropriate licensing agency – Escambia County Contractor Licensing Section for a county license or DBPR for state license to verify the status and insurance.
    • Contractor Search
    • Ask for and verify references from past customers.
    • Check with the local Better Business Bureau. 
    • Get a written estimate from several licensed contractors. Be sure that the estimate includes all work to be done by the contractor, the materials involved, date of completion and the total cost.
    • Don't simply take the lowest bid. An abnormally low bid could lead to trouble later on. 
    • If the project is for repairing damage, check with your insurance company before you sign a contractor to verify that your insurance will cover the repairs.
    • An occupational license is not sufficient in the construction trades.
    • Beware of alleged contractors who ask to be paid in cash or ask for large payments up front.

    Submitting A Flood Insurance Claim Tips

    • Take Photos: Before you start cleaning up after a disaster, take photos of all storm-related damages to your home.
    • Make A List: During the cleaning process, take note of lost or damaged items and gather any original receipts for these items.
    • Call Your Insurance Agent: After gathering necessary documentation, call your insurance company to submit a claim.

    Report Price Gouging

    • Report fraud by calling the Price Gouging Hotline at 866-9 - NO-SCAM (866-966-7226. Visit www.MyFloridaLegal.com to find consumer tips or to file a complaint.

    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.
    • You can help aid in the recovery by donating to UWWF’s Hurricane Sally Relief Fund. Text 850RELIEF to 41444 or visit www.uwwf.org/850RELIEF.

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