Hurricane Season Begins Today. Going To A Shelter Should Be A Last Resort Due To COVID-19.
June 1, 2020
Monday is the first day of hurricane season, and COVID-19 concerns are a bigpart of this year’s local planning.
Shelters will open in the event a named storm threatens Escambia County, but county officials say public shelters might not be the best first choice.
“This year with COVID-19, we really want to stress that residents have a plan rather than go to a shelter,” said Escambia County Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore. “The county will provide shelters and will do everything possible to sanitize them, but we know that the likelihood of COVID-19 spreading increases when people are in close living conditions.”
“A shelter should be a last resort. We are asking residents to know their evacuation zone, and if they aren’t in an evacuation zone, it may be safer to stay at home and prepare accordingly. Better yet, please reach out to family and friends now to develop a plan to stay somewhere safe if you need to evacuate,” Gilmore said.
While June 1 marks the official start to the hurricane season, there have already been two named storms. And forecasters are calling for an above normal season.
Pictured: Hurricane Michael makes landfall in 2019.
Second Arrest Made In Robbery Of Jay Convenience Store
June 1, 2020
A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the robbery of a convenience store in Jay last October.
Bradon Demarcus Brazile, 19, was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail late last week on a charge of robbery without a firearm. A second suspect, 21-year old Demarcus Trey Brown (pictured right), was arrested for robbery without a firearm and obstructing justice on April 1.
The Exprezit Exxon Station in the 3800 block of Highway 4 was robbed the night of October 11. The clerk told the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office that two people completely covered by clothing entered the store. One of them jumped the counter and demanded that she empty the register as the second suspect walked around the counter. They emptied the money into a bag and ran out of the store, according to an arrest report.
Both remained in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Airlifted After Crashing On Dirt Road At Lake Stone
June 1, 2020
An adult male was seriously injured when his vehicle overturned at Lake Stone near Century Sunday afternoon..
The man lost control of a Ford Explorer on a dirt road adjacent to the lake and overturned into a tree about a quarter mile from the boat ramp. He was airlifted by Med Star Air Care helicopter to an area hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated. The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lowest Florida June 1 Gas Prices In 17 Years
June 1, 2020
June begins with the lowest gas prices in Florida since 2003.
The average price per gallon in the state was $1.90 per gallon, 70 cents less than one year ago.
In Escambia County, the average price was $1.80 per gallon Sunday night. In North Escambia, a low price of $1.67 could be found at a station in Cantonment.
“Pump prices remain stifled by lower-than-average fuel demand caused by Covid-19,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although gasoline demand has slowly recovered during recent weeks, it has not returned to a level that would cause pump prices to suddenly return to pre-pandemic levels.”
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Sunny Monday, High Around 90 Degrees
June 1, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
13 Additional COVID-19 Cases In Escambia County Monday
June 1, 2020
Thirteen additional COVID-19 cases were reported Monday in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties according to the Florida Department of Health.
The number of cases in Escambia County is at 828, and Santa Rosa County increased by two to 247.
Of the 33 deaths in Escambia County, 26 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been eight deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 56,830 cases including 55,415 Florida residents. There have been 10,231 hospitalizations and 2,460 deaths. The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
Escambia County cases:
- Total cases — 828 (+13 since Sunday)
- Pensacola — 593
- Cantonment — 51
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 11
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 64*
- Deaths — 33
- Male — 274
- Female — 394
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 247 (+2 since Sunday)
- Milton — 152
- Navarre — 40
- Gulf Breeze — 30
- Pace — 17
- Jay — 4
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 23*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 177
- Female — 67
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 56,830
- Florida residents — 55,415
- Deaths — 2,460
- Hospitalizations — 10,231*
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
Nine Mile, Pine Forest Traffic Light To Be Moved. It’s In The Wrong Spot By A Few Feet.
June 1, 2020
The previously existing traffic signal on the northwest corner of Pine Forest and Nine Mile Road may be long enough to reach across the future westbound lanes, but it’s in the wrong spot. The Florida Department of Transportation said it will be removed, and a new one installed a few feet away to accommodate the utility, drainage, pedestrian, and roadway upgrades taking place on this corner. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Thousands Of Pounds Of Food Distributed In Century (With Photo Gallery)
May 31, 2020
About 30,000 pounds of food was distributed in Century on Saturday to families in need.
The free food giveaway was a partnership between the Town of Century, Northwest Florida Community Outreach and Farm Share. Hundreds of local resident received a variety of food that included meats, produce, milk and fresh produce.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Here’s The Count Of Long-Term Care COVID-19 Deaths By Facility In Escambia County
May 31, 2020
Of the 33 COVID-19 deaths in Escambia County, 26 — just over three-quarters of them — have been in long-term care facilities according to data released by the Florida Department of Health.
There have been 12 residents that died from the virus at Bayside Health and Rehabilitation Center, an increase of five deaths at the facility since a week ago. As of Saturday, there were 24 current cases at Bayside.
At Southern Oaks Care Center, seven residents have died as has one staff member. Four residents have died at Brookdale Pensacola assisted living center, and there has been one resident death each at Rosewood Health and Rehabilitation and Arcadia Health and Rehabilitation Center.
A total of 810 cases were reported in Escambia County as of Saturday night. It’s not possible to determine how many of those have been residents of long-term care facilities; the Florida Department of Health’s data reports only indicate the number of current COVID-19 by facility. It does not provide a cumulative total by facility.
Church Donating Property For Pine Barren Church Road Dirt Road Paving
May 31, 2020
The Pine Barren Baptist Church is donating property to allow for paving of the dirt portion of Pine Barren Church Road near Davisville.
The 0.16 acres at 5270 Pine Barren Church Road is being donated for right of way.
Pine Barren Church Road runs West Highway 4 to Highway 97. About 5,300 linear feet is dirt and part of Escambia County’s Dirt Road Program.
Base preparation and minor drainage work will be constructed by in-house crews and the paving and striping work will be contracted. The donation of real property from Pine Barren Baptist Church is needed to complete the project.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
