EREC Members Asked To Conserve Electricity To Avoid Outages
January 22, 2025
Escambia River Electric Cooperative is urgently asking members to conserve electricity to avoid outages due to an extreme strain on the system due to the extreme cold.
“Please make every effort (Wednesday) morning to reduce load,” EREC said. “Load can be reduced by turning off all unneeded lights, TVs, etc. and postponing the use of electric appliances such as dishwashers, clothes dryers, and ovens. In addition to conserving, we need you to help us get this important message out by sharing this post. Small reductions by many can make all the difference.”
“The member-owned cooperative said that they are “thanking every crew who has been out working in this cold weather. PowerSouth and EREC have done everything there is to do to try and prevent outage. We also want to thank every member who has prayed for our crews and offered words of encouragement.”
Pictured: EREC Crews work in the snow to restore an outage on Tuesday. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
All Escambia County Roads Considered Closed Again Today
January 22, 2025
All roads and bridges in Escambia County (both Florida and Alabama) should be considered impassable until further notice due to hazardous driving condition.
Escambia County (FL) said Tuesday night that emergency vehicles should be the only vehicles on the road until further notice. Drivers should suspend any travel on Wednesday. Road conditions will remain hazardous through at least Wednesday and Wednesday night.
Tuesday night, FDOT closed 65 miles of I-10 from Exit 5, the Pine Forest Road exit in Pensacola, to Exit 70, Highway 285 in Okaloosa County due to snow and ice.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ECUA Further Delays Some Collections, Some Routes Canceled Altogether
January 22, 2025
ECUA has updated their collection schedule based upon winter conditions, no pick up this week for some locations.
Sanitation collection services will resume on Friday, January 24. Due to the impact of the recent winter weather, road conditions, and limited landfill operations, collection schedules have been adjusted as follows:
- Wednesday collections will resume on Friday.
- Thursday collections will take place on Saturday.
- Friday collections will take place on Sunday.
- Monday’s and Tuesday’s collections will resume as normal next week. Tuesday’s route, which covers a predominantly rural area, is deferred for safety reasons until next week as many roads in the northern portion of the county may still be impassable.
Pictured: ECUA cans await pickup on Tuesday on North Highway 99 in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Seven Vehicle Highway 97 Crash
January 22, 2025
One person was injured in a crash involving seven vehicles on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill Tuesday afternoon.
The crash happened about 2:40 p.m. on a slick, icy and snowy Highway 97 about 1.5 miles south of Tungoil Road, between Walnut Hill and Dogwood Park.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
It was reported that seven vehicles were involved, including two semi-trucks. Very little damage was obvious to the involved vehicles.
Most of the vehicles were immoveable due to snow and slick ice. Several first responder vehicles also required assistance to get out of the area.
One person was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital with injuries that were not considered to be serious. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Home Damaged By Heavy Snowfall
January 22, 2025
A Molino home was damaged by Tuesday’s heavy snowfall.
“My pool’s screen enclosure came crashing down completely ripping away from the house and ending up in and around the pool deck,” the homeowner told us. “Just 20 minutes earlier I was out there attempting to use a leaf blower to remove the snow build up; the snow was too heavy to blow off.”
The owner of the home on Highway 29 just north of Highway 97 said he wanted to warn others of the potential danger from heavy snow on their pool enclosures.
We received several reports from the immediate area of 8 to nearly 10 inches of snow.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Snow Photo Gallery
January 22, 2025
Here’s another gallery of reader submitted snow photos.
Look for hundreds more photos to come.
To submit your photos, email news@northe
scambia.com or send them on one of our social media channels.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT Snowplows Work Throughout The Night To Open Major Roads
January 22, 2025
The Florida Department of Transportation’s snowplows were out throughout the night to remove snow and ice from I-10 and other critical corridors to get them open as quickly as possible.
Tuesday night, FDOT closed 65 miles of I-10 from Exit 5, the Highway 90 exit, to Exit 70, Highway 285 in Okaloosa County due to snow and ice.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Life Threatening Cold And Travel Conditions Continue; All Local Roads Closed
January 21, 2025
The National Weather Service said Tuesday night that life threatening travel conditions are coupling with life threatening cold temperatures to create a danger situation.
Temperatures are expected to plummet into the teens and even some isolated single digits tonight with wind chills well into the single digits and possibly dipping below zero.
All roadways in Escambia County, Florida; Escambia County, Alabama; and Santa Rosa County, Florida are considered closed and impassable.
Numerous motorists have been stranded in their vehicles, especially along Highway 29 south of Century.
The road closures will continue through at least Wednesday.
Pictured: Highway 97 at South Highway 99 in Walnut Hill Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Several Inches Of Snow Fall Across North Escambia Area (With Gallery)
January 21, 2025
Several inches of snow have fallen across northern Escambia County in Florida and Escambia County in Pensacola.
This is first of many galleries we will post on NorthEscambia.com. Send us your photos on social media or email news@northesambia.com.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
All Escambia County (AL) Roads, Bridges Closed
January 21, 2025
Statement from Escambia County (AL) Engineer Parker Ross at 10:13 a.m.:
“Effective immediately, all Escambia County roads and bridges should be considered impassable until further notice. Citizens are advised that when roads and bridges become impassable, all travel should be suspended or delayed. Only emergency vehicles should travel on county roads and bridges until further notice.”
As of 10:30 a.m., no road closures have been announced in Escambia County, Florida. However, snow and possibly ice are accumulating rapidly.
Pictured: Snow on a local rod Tuesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo.