Flood Warning: Southeastern Escambia, Southwestern Santa Rosa
November 9, 2009
* Flash Flood Warning for…
southeastern Escambia County in northwest Florida…
this includes the city of Pensacola…
southwestern Santa Rosa County in northwest Florida…
southern Baldwin County in southwest Alabama…
extreme southeastern Mobile County in southwest Alabama…
* until 130 am CST
* at 1023 PM CST…National Weather Service radar indicated a rain band
associated with Tropical Storm Ida…nearly stationary over southern portions
of Baldwin County Alabama…southern Escambia County and extreme
southwest Santa Rosa County in Florida. Doppler weather radar trends indicate the
potential of heavy rain will continue into the predawn hours Tuesday morning
over the warned area.
* Locations in the warning include but are not limited to Bon
Secour…Turkey Branch…Summerdale…
Robertsdale…Point Clear…Oak…mouth of Weeks Bay…Montrose…
Miflin…Marlow…Magnolia Springs…Lillian…
Foley…Fairhope…Elsanor…
West Pensacola…Warrington…
naval base…pace…Myrtle Grove…Gulf Breeze…Goulding…
Gonzalez…Ferry Pass…Ensley…East Pensacola Heights…Cottage
Hill…Cantonment…
3 inches of rain has already fallen over portions of southern
Baldwin County…southeast of Foley since 7 PM this evening. Amounts
of just under 2 inches have fallen over southern Escambia County.
Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible in the
warned area through 130 am Tuesday morning.Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding. If flash flooding is observed…act quickly.
Move up to higher ground to escape flood waters. Do not stay in
areas subject to flooding when water begins rising.
Most flood deaths occur in automobiles. Never drive your vehicle into
areas where the water covers the roadway. Flood waters are usually
deeper than they appear. Just one foot of flowing water is powerful
enough to sweep vehicles off the Road. When encountering flooded
roads make the smart choice…turn around…dont drown.
Ida Nearing Dauphin Island
November 9, 2009
At 730 PM…the center of Ida is estimated by local radar to be
around 55 miles south of Dauphin Island Alabama…moving north
northeast at around 19 mph. This places the center of circulation
moving inland between Ft Morgan and Orange Beach in the next 2 to 3
hours. Winds near the center of circulation are between 38 and 50
knots with higher gusts. Further weakening is expected as it nears
landfall.
Observations along the immediate coast near the mouth of Mobile Bay
show tidal levels have risen to around 3 feet above predicted levels
and will continue to rise for the remainder of this evening possibly
as much as 6 feet before midnight…especially to the east of the
center of circulation affecting the southeast part of Mobile Bay and
the Intracoastal Waterway of Alabama and northwest Florida from the
Alabama barge canal to Big Lagoon.
Winds speeds near the mouth of Mobile Bay were around 30 knots
gusting to 40 knots with higher gusts expected up until landfall
which is estimated to be around 12 midnight.
Further to the east near the southern end of Pensacola Bay waters
levels were about 2 feet above predicted levels and will continue to
rise…possibly reaching 5 feet above predicated levels before
midnight.
Wind speeds near the southern end of Pensacola Bay were around 20
knots gusting to near 30 knots and are expected to increase to
around 35 to 40 knots with higher gusts for the next 2 hours.
Offshore…significant wave heights 15 miles south of Gulf Shores
were 14 feet.
At the north end of Mobile Bay at the Alabama state docks water
levels were decreasing in height and were about 1 foot above
predicated levels but could rise briefing again near landfall before
falling again after midnight as the center of circulation moves
further inland.
Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office Prepared For Storm; All GPS Monitored Persons Must Surrender At Jail
November 9, 2009
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office took measures to ensure that they were ready to meet the needs of the citizens of Santa Rosa County during Tropical Storm IDA. Beginning at midnight, all deputies that were regularly scheduled to be off were in for storm duty and extra patrol.
Specialized units such as investigations and narcotics were assigned to extra patrol. Also, all of the Sheriff’s Office Hurricane Response equipment (4 wheel drives, ATV’s, generators, extra vehicles, and the Mobile Command Center) were prepared and dispersed to all areas of the county to be ready for any potential problems that may arise within the county.
The Sheriff’s Office GPS Unit also ordered all adult individuals that are currently electronically monitored in the County and Circuit Courts in Santa Rosa County to immediately surrender themselves to the officer in charge at the Santa Rosa County Jail. This was done at the direction of an Administrative Directive issued by the courts due to the State of Emergency that was issued, and the likelihood of the Sheriff’s Office being unable to maintain electronic contact with the monitored individuals.
These individuals will remain incarcerated until such time as electrical power is restored and electronic monitoring can be resumed. The majority surrendered themselves to the Santa Rosa County Jail. Any individual that did not voluntarily comply will be picked up by GPS deputies and face additional charges.
Tropical Storm Ida: Century
November 9, 2009
Century Mayor Freddie McCall said Monday evening that there were no problems reported in the town.
He said traffic was flowing well at a normal volume on Highway 29.
The Century Town Hall will be open as usual Tuesday morning, he said, but that is subject to change.
Emergencies with gas, water or sewer in the town can be reported to the usual after-hours number (850) 256-3208.
Lake Stone Closed, Evacuated
November 9, 2009
Lake Stone Campground near Century has been closed and evacuated due to the approach of Ida.
Call 475-5220 for reopening information.
Updated: Local Closures, Cancellation List
November 9, 2009
(Updated 3:45 p.m.) The following North Escambia area closures and cancellations have been reported:
- All Escambia County (Fla.) public schools are closed Tuesday.
- Byrneville Elementary Charter School will be closed Tuesday.
- Escambia County (Ala.) public schools will be closed Tuesday.
- Santa Rosa County public schools will be closed Tuesday.
- Escambia Academy will be closed Tuesday.
- All First Judicial Circuit Courts in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties will be be closed Tuesday.
- The Escambia County Health Dept. will be closed Tuesday.
- Tuesday Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) trash pickups will not take place Tuesday. Tuesday routes will be collected Wednesday. Wednesday routes will be picked up Thursday; Thursday routes on Friday and Friday routes on Saturday.
- The Council on Aging of West Florida’s offices and congregate meals sites in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
- The Northwest Escambia baseball meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 10 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, November 17 at 6:30 p.m.
- Molino Weight Watchers meeting scheduled for Monday at Aldersgate UMC was canceled.
- The West Florida Home Education Support League’s Sixth Annual Spelling Bee that was scheduled for Monday night at Klondike Baptist has been rescheduled for Monday night, November 16 at 6 p.m. Location to be confirmed at wfhesl.org
- The Veterans Day program planned for Monday at Ernest Ward Middle School will be rescheduled. Preliminary plans call for the event to be held Friday. EWMS will make an official announcement as soon as possible here on NorthEscambia.com.
- Santa Rosa County Schools will be closed Tuesday.
- PJC and UWF will be closed Tuesday.
- Tiny Town Day Care in Atmore will be closed Tuesday.
- First Baptist Church of Atmore Daycare will be closed Tuesday.
- Baldwin County Schools will be closed Tuesday.
- All Catholic schools in Escambia county will be closed Tuesday.
- Is you local business, church or community group closing or canceling services or events on Monday or Tuesday?
- Email the information to news@northescambia.com
- Include the name and location of the cancellation, any information about when you will reopen or reschedule and any other information you feel the public needs to know.
- You must include a contact name and phone number (will not be published unless you ask us to do so) for verification.
Keep Reading NorthEscambia.com On Your Cell Phone Even When The Power Is Out
November 9, 2009
Remember, if you lose power during Tropical Storm Ida, you can continue to read NorthEscambia.com on most Internet enabled cellular phones.
Just visit http://www.northescambia.com (the usual address) on your cell phone.
With a Blackberry, iphone or other smartphone, NorthEscambia.com looks and works just like it does on your computer. With other web-enabled cell phones, things may look a little different, but all of the information you normally see is still there at www.NorthEscambia.com
Escambia (Ala.) Schools Closed Tuesday
November 9, 2009
All public schools in Escambia County (Ala.) will be closed on Tuesday due to Tropical Storm Ida.
Private schools including Escambia Academy, Temple Christian Academy and Atmore Christian School will also be closed Tuesday.
The schools will all also be closed Wednesday for the Veterans Day holiday.
Pen Air Credit Union Closed
November 9, 2009
Due to extreme weather conditions, all Pen Air Federal Credit Union offices, including Century, closed this afternooon and will re-open pending weather conditions.
In the event of a power outage, Pen Air FCU offers ATMs powered by generators are located at the Saufley Field Pen Air FCU office, 4523 Saufley Field Road, and the Corporate Office, 1495 E. Nine Mile Road, both in Pensacola, Fla.
Pen Air FCU places the safety of the community, members, employees, and their families at the highest level. Should phone lines remain or become operational, please call any office at (850) 505-3200 or toll free 1-877-4PENAIR for updates on resuming operations, before driving to an office. Information will also be posted on www.penair.org.
All Santa Rosa Schools Closed Tuesday
November 9, 2009
Some Santa Rosa County public schools dismissed at 12:30 Monday afternoon. All Santa Rosa County District schools will be closed on Tuesday. The schools will remain closed Wednesday for the Veterans Day holiday.
Schools that dismissed early were:
- Navarre High School
- Gulf Breeze High School
- Pace High School
- Milton High School
- Avalon Middle School
- Holley Navarre Middle School
All other schools were to dismiss at their normal times.