Stay Off The Roads: Black Ice Threat Tonight; Escambia Sanding Bridges; FDOT In Winter Weather Mode
February 15, 2021
Drivers are being urged to stay off the road tonight and Tuesday morning.
Patchy black is possible across the entire area overnight, according the National Weather Service in Mobile, and Escambia County will be sanding bridges as an extra precaution.
North Escambia area temperatures will drop to around the 20 degree mark by Tuesday morning. While rain has ended, any residual water on area roadways and bridges will quickly freeze tonight.
Escambia County Public Works Director told NorthEscambia.com that road crews will be sanding bridges.
The Florida Department of Transportation will go into winter weather operations mode at 9 p.m. in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Motorists may notice an increased number of FDOT vehicles on state routes as maintenance and operations staff monitor winter weather conditions. FDOT crews will deploy various tankers, bridge deck sprayers and other equipment to apply anti-icing products on bridges and overpasses to prevent ice from bonding to the pavement surface. The anti-icing products allows any potential ice layer to melt more quickly and reduces the amount of time required to restore the roads to a clear, dry state.
FDOT will collaborate with state and local law enforcement to evaluate roads for closure if icy conditions make it challenging to maintain a drivable roadway. Motorists are encouraged to use all available information and follow law enforcement closure announcements until weather conditions improve before venturing out in your vehicle.
Temperatures will remain below freezing through much of Tuesday morning, but sunshine will return to the area and help to dry out those roads that are not shade covered. Shade covered roads may take longer to improve depending on the degree of black icing that forms, according to the weather service.
Chumuckla Elementary School Struck By Lightning
February 15, 2021
Chumuckla Elementary School was struck by lightning on Monday.
The Allentown Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a fire alarm at the northern Santa Rosa County school about 11:15 a.m., and smoke was reported in the building.
The smoke was traced to heat and cooling system as the result of the lightning strike. There were no other issues reported.
There were no students at the school due to the President’s Day holiday.
Photos: Brad Baker, Santa Rosa County Emergency Management for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia And Santa Rosa Schools, UWF, PSC, PCA Closed On Tuesday Due To Possible Icy Road Concerns
February 15, 2021
Escambia (Florida and Alabama) and Santa Rosa county schools will be closed on Tuesday due to the frigid weather and the potential for black ice on the roadways. Most other schools and colleges are in the area are also closed.
All schools, district offices, and afterschool activities including indoor and outdoor athletics, have been canceled for Tuesday in both counties.
“We anticipate that normal operations will resume on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. This decision has been made with the safety and security of students and staff in mind,” Escambia County Superintendent Timothy Smith said.
Escambia County (AL) Schools will be closed Tuesday. All after schools events are also canceled. School is expected to resume on Wednesday.
The University of West Florida will close at 9 p.m. tonight, Monday, Feb. 15 through 5 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021.
- All courses, including online courses, are cancelled. All assignments, exams, virtual and in-person courses are suspended during this time.
- All virtual or in-person meetings, activities and services are suspended during this time.
- Essential employees must report to work, as assigned. If you are essential personnel and required to report to work, your supervisor will notify you.
All Pensacola State College offices and in-person classes are canceled for Tuesday until 1 p.m.
Pensacola Christian Academy classes and all activities are canceled for Tuesday, February 16, because of anticipated winter weather conditions. Regular school schedules are expected to resume on Wednesday, February 17.
Any updates will be posted on NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Protect Your Pipes Now From Freezing Temperatures
February 15, 2021
There are steps that will protect household pipes from freezing temperatures External, exposed pipes are naturally the most vulnerable to freezing. Here are tips from ECUA:
- Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas: Pipes located in unheated areas of your house, such as a garage or crawl space under the house or in the attic, are subject to freezing. If you have time to do this before freezing temperatures arrive, wrap these pipes with insulation materials made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found at most hardware stores or home improvement centers.
- Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses: Detach all hoses from faucets and allow them to drain. This prevents the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.
- Run a trickle of water: When forecasts call for sustained and/or severe freezing temperatures, run a thin trickle of water from the faucet furthest from the water line coming to your house. Usually, this is in a room at the back of the house or outside, in the yard. Allowing the water to circulate through your home’s plumbing helps to keep it from freezing. Some consider this a waste of water but the cost of the water used is extremely slight compared to repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.
- Remember the backflow preventer: Residents and business owners who have backflow preventers on their properties for water lines, fire lines, irrigation systems, and swimming pools need to protect their backflow preventers from freeze as well. Extended freezes can burst the body of the backflow assembly, rendering it useless. Wrap these pipes with insulation materials, made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found at most hardware stores or home improvement centers. If the device and the water line are not in use at this time (i.e., irrigation system or swimming pool lines), shut off the water supply line and drain the backflow device.
Today Is The 5th Anniversary Of EF-3 Tornado That Ravaged Century
February 15, 2021
Monday marks the fifth anniversary of an EF-3 tornado that ripped through Century.
The tornado first touched down southwest of Lambert Bridge Road southwest of McDavid at 3:32 p.m. on February 15, 2016. The first EF-2 intensity damage was on Holland Road where a workshop was destroyed. As it moved into Century, the tornado reached peak intensity with widespread EF-2 damage with isolated EF-3 level damage that destroyed numerous homes and businesses, according to the National Weather Service.
The tornado continued to track across the state line into Alabama with EF-2 damage on Old Fannie Road east of Flomaton. The tornado continued toward Pollard, AL, where it weakened and lifted at 3:55 p.m.
The EF-3 tornado was on the ground 16.5 miles with a path up to 300 yards wide.
The photos on this page and in the first gallery below were taken just by NorthEscambia.com just minutes after the tornado touchdown in Century. In the top photo seen around the world, neighbors and first responders came together to rescue a woman that as trapped in her overturned mobile home.
For a photo gallery from February 15, 2015, click here.
For a photo gallery featuring the Century UMC, click here.
For an additional damage photo gallery, click here.
For a photo gallery from Gov. Rick Scott’s visit to Century, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Explosion And Fire Destroys Five ECUA Trucks At Natural Gas Fueling Station, Damages Others
February 15, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority says the fire and explosion Sunday afternoon at compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station on Pine Forest Road destroyed at least five sanitation trucks.
Spokesperson Nathalie Bowers told NorthEscambia.com that damage to another 2-3 trucks is being evaluated, and about a half dozen have other damage such as broken windshields.
There are about 50 CNG powered sanitation and recycling trucks in the ECUA fleet.
Bowers said there will be no impacts to ECUA collections on Monday on Pensacola Beach, and likely no serious impacts to Tuesday collections in the North Escambia area or service for the rest of the week.
The CNG fueling station is operated by Pensacola Energy.
There were no injuries.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Charged In Fatal Stabbing
February 15, 2021
An Escambia County man is charged with a fatal stabbing Saturday night in Escambia County.
Corey Ruben Bates, 32, is charged with homicide.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said he is accused of stabbing a 50-year old man about 10 p.m. on Esperanto Drive in Bellview. The man was transported to an area hospital were he passed away from his injuries.
Bates was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Firefighters Battle Brush Fire South Of Century
February 15, 2021
Escambia Fire Rescue battled a brush fire Sunday evening south of Century.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the area of Highway 29 and Dawson Road about 5:30 p.m. The fire was reported to be about 2.5 acres.
There were no injuries and no property damage reported.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Gas Prices Slip A Couple Of Cents, Still Up A Quarter Since January 1
February 15, 2021
Florida gas prices took a little step back last week. The average price for a gallon of gasoline declined two cents, but is still up about a quarter since January 1.
The year began with gas prices averaging $2.20 per gallon. Now, Florida drivers are paying an average price of $2.46. That raises the cost of filling a tank of gas by $4 (based on a 15-gallon fuel tank).
The lowest North Escambia price Sunday night was $2.38 at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while in Pensacola $2.24 could be found at a store on Barrancas Avenue.
“Unfortunately, the recent jump at the pump may not be over yet,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA — The Auto Club Group. “Pump prices could eventually reach $2.60 per gallon in the coming weeks, as refineries prepare to switch to summer blend gasoline. Summer gasoline typically costs more to produce, because it contains more additives, which work to reduce smog during the hotter months.”
Explosion, Fire At Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Station On Pine Forest Road
February 15, 2021
An explosion felt for miles and vehicle fires were reported Sunday afternoon at a compressed natural gas fueling station on Pine Forest Road.
The incident happened about 2:35 p.m. at the Pensacola Energy Natural Gas Fueling (CNG) Station at 6722 Pine Forest Road, across from the Walmart Neighborhood Market at Pine Forest Road and Mobile Highway.
RELATED: Explosion, Fire Destroys Five ECUA Trucks At Natural Gas Fueling Station, Damages Others
Five ECUA sanitation trucks were destroyed by fire at the fueling station. The natural gas supply was quickly cut off to the fueling station as first responders arrived.
There were no injuries reported.
Bystanders and others were evacuated from the immediate area, and the traffic in the area was shut down. Pine Forest Road was reopened to traffic by 4 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com received reports of people that felt or heard the explosion from as far away as Cantonment and Pace.
The CNG fueling station is operated by Pensacola Energy.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Top photo from security video at Gary Sapp Automotive.
