Donations Needed For Tornado Victims; Item Giveaway Set For Wednesday AM
February 16, 2016
The Abundant Life Assembly of God on North Century Boulevard is accepting donations for tornado victims in Century.
Items needed include food, water, cleaning supplies, clothing of all types and sizes, toys and other household items. There will be an open trailer in the back parking lot of the church were donations can be left after hours.
At 9 a.m. Wednesday, items will be distributed to those in need at the church.
Tornado Updates: At A Glance
February 16, 2016
5 p.m. Update from Escambia County on Century/McDavid tornado
Essential Information
· Residents are going to be allowed to re-enter closed roads on foot with proof of residency Escambia County is working with the Town of Century and various agencies today to complete damage assessments and remove downed trees.
· Search and Rescue was completed Monday evening, however teams rechecked homes this morning in the daylight ECSO to work with Red Cross to establish areas for Red Cross ERV to set up for distribution of food, supplies
Damage Assessments
· The National Weather Service determined the tornado that hit Century to be a strong EF2, weak EF3.
· They will post updates throughout the day on Twitter (@NWSMobile) An estimated 40-50 residences/business were affected by the storm Governmental and not-for-profit agencies are working to complete damage assessments
Shelter Information
· The Century Community Center (6001-A Industrial Boulevard) is open as the shelter and the Red Cross is on scene for assistance
Red Cross
· Meals being delivered by Emergency Response Vehicles Clean-up kits/comfort kits will be available soon A family service team is being assembled Red Cross has served 300 meals Wind Creek is bringing meals in again tonight
Relief Resources
· Century Clerk: Visit Century Community Center and let Red Cross know you are here for one of the following purposes:
o To register for assistance (such as debris removal and salvage of belongings)
o Disaster volunteer check-in (Do not self-deploy. Please register at the community center)
o Red Cross Shelter (for temporary shelter relief)
o Food (provided by Atmore Poarch Creek Indians)
· Additional Resources available at Abundant Life Assembly of God Church. They are providing food, water and clothing for anyone who needs it. Donations accepted. 8040 Century Blvd. 850-256-5227
Power Companies
· As of 12:50 p.m., EREC reported that all power had been restored to those areas able to receive electricity.
· Gulf Power has 150 poleman on scene trying to restore power; estimated time of restoration for structures that can receive power is between 10 p.m. and midnight tonight tentatively.
Schools
All Escambia County, Fla., public schools are open at their regular times on Wednesday.
Road Closures
· Pond at Highway 29
· Hecker at Highway 29
· Salters Lake at Highway 29
· Front at Highway 29
· Bradley at Highway 29
· Alger at Highway 29
· Freedom at Jefferson
· Jefferson
· Ramar at Highway 29
First Responders
· Early estimates are that there were 120 first responders on scene Monday night.
Debris Pickup
· Special debris pickup has not been determined yet but will be addressed in the immediate future.
Electrical Issues
· If electrical circuits and electrical equipment have gotten wet or are in or near water, turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel. If you must enter standing water to access the main power switch, then call an electrician to turn it off.
· Never turn power on or off or use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water.
· Do not connect generators to your home’s electrical circuits without the approved, automatic-interrupt devices. If a generator is on line when electrical service is restored, it can become a major fire hazard and it may endanger line workers helping to restore power in your area.
Reentering Buildings
· Stay away from damaged buildings or structures until they have been examined and certified as safe by a building inspector or other government authority. You may want to wait to return to buildings during daylight hours, when it is easier to avoid hazards, particularly if the electricity is off and you have no lights.
· Leave immediately if you hear shifting or unusual noises that signal that the structure may fall or if you smell gas or suspect a leak. If you smell gas, notify emergency authorities and do not turn on the lights, light matches, smoke, or do anything that could cause a spark. Do not return to the house until you are told it is safe to do so.
· Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
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.
· Always avoid making 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 to cut, 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, the teeth will be dulled and the chain life shortened considerably.
Cleaning Up Safely
· Always wear gloves and work boots when cleaning or removing debris.
· Discard unsafe food.
· Open windows to provide ventilation.
· Remove wet contents including carpet, furniture and building materials.
· Do not allow children to play in or around debris piles. Check play areas for hazards.
· Do not try to move any displaced propane tanks. Get in touch with fire officials to provide them the location of these tanks.
· Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than one cup of bleach in one gallon of water. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners; mixing can produce dangerous, toxic fumes.
Sunny Skies Today
February 16, 2016
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 47. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
Today Is Voter Registration Deadline For The March Presidential Primary
February 16, 2016
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office will hold extended hours on Tuesday to allow voters to register or change parties before the book closing deadline for the Presidential Preference Primary.
Office hours will be 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election. New registrations and party changes must be completed and received or postmarked no later than February 16, in order for them to be effective for the March 15 election. Address changes can be made after the books close. If you are unsure of your registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Am I Registered?”.
For more information, please contact the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections at (850) 595-3900, soe@escambiavotes.com or visit EscambiaVotes.com.
Four North Escambia Schools Closed For Tuesday
February 15, 2016
Four North Escambia area schools are closed for Tuesday due to the tornado damage in the area. The closed schools are Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle, Byrneville Elementary and Bratt Elementary.
The schools will be closed for students and staff.
Any student that lives in the Northview or Ernest Ward attendance zone but attends another school in the county (such as West Florida High) is also excused from school on Tuesday.
A decision about Wednesday will be made at a future time and posted on NorthEscambia.com.
Tornado Watch In Effect; Showers And Thunderstorms
February 15, 2016
There is a Tornado Watch in effect until 9 p.m. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Washington’s Birthday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 70. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tonight: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9pm, then a chance of showers between 9pm and midnight. Some of the storms could be severe. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 43. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 47. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Tuesday Is Registration Deadline For Presidential Preference Primary
February 15, 2016
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office will be open to the public on today – Presidents’ Day, and will hold extended hours on Tuesday to allow voters to register or change parties before the book closing deadline for the Presidential Preference Primary.
Office hours will be 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday and 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election. New registrations and party changes must be completed and received or postmarked no later than February 16, in order for them to be effective for the March 15 election. Address changes can be made after the books close. If you are unsure of your registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Am I Registered?”.
For more information, please contact the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections at (850) 595-3900, soe@escambiavotes.com or visit EscambiaVotes.com.
Increasing Clouds Tonight; Rain For Monday
February 14, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 47. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Washington’s Birthday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 68. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and midnight. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 46. South wind around 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 47. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72.
Sunny But Cooler This Weekend
February 13, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 28. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Increasing clouds, with a low around 46. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Washington’s Birthday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 67. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 68. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 42. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 47.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Sunny Low 70’s Today; Colder For The Weekend
February 12, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. West wind around 10 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 53. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 28. North wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 57. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Washington’s Birthday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 65. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 65.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 68.