No ECUA Trash Pickup Tuesday
August 27, 2012
There will be NO ECUA residential or commercial sanitation service on Tuesday. A decision will be made on Tuesday about regular service for Wednesday and a possible pickup day for Tuesday’s route.
Focus Turns To Panhandle As Isaac Looms
August 27, 2012
Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Craig Fugate said Monday that the federal disaster agency is ready to assist as Tropical Storm Isaac bears down on the northern Gulf coast on an course eerily similar to that of Hurricane Katrina seven years ago.
Heavily criticized for its poor response to the devastating hurricane that hit New Orleans on Aug. 29, 2005, Fugate, the former head of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, said FEMA has addressed its shortcomings and is in a much better position to be of immediate assistance.
FEMA personnel are already on the ground throughout the region and have been working to coordinate efforts before the storm makes landfall.
“The biggest thing we’ve learned is that we have to work together as a team,” Fugate said of local, state and federal responders.
Fugate spoke with reporters via conference call Monday to provide updates on preparations for Isaac’s landfall, now expected midweek. Forecasts have the storm making landfall in Alabama, Mississippi or Louisiana though its effects will felt hundreds of miles away.
“This is not a New Orleans storm,” Fugate said. “This is a Gulf Coast storm…Everybody’s focusing on New Orleans and they don’t understand this threat is not a point. It’s a large area.”
Of chief concern in Florida is the potential for torrential rains in the already water-logged Panhandle region. Isaac is a slow moving, relatively large storm system that will dump water before landfall and continue soaking the region after the center of the storm passes through.
Gov. Rick Scott, who appeared at a breakfast meeting of Florida and South Carolina delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, said Isaac could cause big problems in the region that in recent years has been hit by the BP oil spill in 2010 and Tropical Storm Debbie earlier this year.
The storm could bring as much as 16 inches of rain in Pensacola and surrounding Escambia County, which may also experience tropical storm force winds for more than a day. Storm surge in the region could run three to six feet.
“The biggest concern now is the Panhandle,” Scott said.”The Panhandle is drenched.”
Meanwhile, in Tampa, the roughly 50,000 people in the area for the convention woke up to a breezy, rainy morning, but little evidence of a tropical system. The sun even came out a few times as the day went on. Still, Republican leaders postponed official events until Tuesday, at least in part because of high winds and potential storm surge.
Isaac brought heavy rains to the Florida Keys during the early hours Monday, but Scott said there was minimal damage reported. At noon, more than 70,000 Florida Power & Light customers were without power.
Along the Panhandle, preparations were in full swing Monday morning. A mandatory evacuation is in place in Walton County for all residents living south of Highway 20 located in low lying areas.
Evacuation orders were also issued in portions of Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties. Included in that area were evacuation orders for Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach.
By The News Service of Florida
What Can Escambia County Expect From Isaac?
August 27, 2012
The North Escambia area can expect strong winds and heavy rains if Isaac makes landfall near New Orleans as forecast.
Forecasts are below for both the northern half and the southern half (scroll down) of Escambia County.
Here is the current North Escambia area forecast for Isaac:
- Tonight: Tropical storm conditions possible with hurricane conditions also possible. Cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Lows in the mid 70s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph becoming 25 to 30 mph with gusts to around 40 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
- Tuesday: Tropical storm conditions expected with hurricane conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Highs in the mid 80s. East winds 30 to 35 mph becoming 25 to 35 mph in the afternoon. Gusts up to 50 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.
- Tuesday Night: Tropical storm conditions expected with hurricane conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Near steady temperature in the upper 70s. Southeast winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts to around 50 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.
- Wednesday: Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Highs in the mid 80s. Southeast winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts to around 50 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.
- Wednesday Night: Breezy…cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Near steady temperature in the upper 70s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
Here is the current southern Escambia forecast for Isaac:
- Tonight: Tropical storm conditions expected with hurricane conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms. Near steady temperature around 80. Inland…northeast winds 20 to 25 mph becoming east 30 to 35 mph after midnight. Along the coast… Northeast winds 25 to 30 mph becoming east 25 to 35 mph after midnight. Gusts up to 40 mph becoming 45 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.
- Tuesday: Tropical storm conditions expected with hurricane conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Highs in the mid 80s. Inland…east winds 25 to 35 mph becoming 30 to 40 mph in the afternoon. Along the coast…east winds 30 to 40 mph becoming 35 to 45 mph in the afternoon. Gusts up to 55 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.
- Tuesday Night: Tropical storm conditions expected with hurricane conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Near steady temperature around 80. Southeast winds 30 to 40 mph inland…southeast 35 to 45 mph along the coast. Gusts up to 55 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.
- Wednesday: Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Near steady temperature in the lower 80s. Inland…south winds 30 to 40 mph. Along the coast…southeast winds 35 to 45 mph becoming south 30 to 40 mph in the afternoon. Gusts up to 55 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.
- Wednesday Night: Windy…cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Near steady temperature in the upper 70s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Near steady temperature around 80. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Friday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Friday Night: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Sunday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
HURRICANE WARNING: Isaac Churns Toward The Gulf Of Mexico
August 26, 2012
A hurricane warning has been issued for the North Escambia area as Isaac moves toward the northern Gulf Coast.
Isaac is moving north of Cuba on a northwest track and is expected to strengthen over the next 48 hours. Isaac is forecast to move near or over the Florida Keys Sunday or Sunday night and over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by early Monday.
For the very latest information on Isaac, click the graphic above to enlarge.
For other Isaac updates, check the front page of NorthEscambia.com for the very latest.
Northview Falls To Bay, PHS Over Tate
August 24, 2012
The Northview Chiefs fell to Bay tonight in a preseason classic, 14-7.
Pensacola High beat the Tate Aggies 27-0 preseason action.
Complete coverage Saturday morning on NorthEscambia.com.
Isaac: Escambia County Update
August 24, 2012
Escambia County Public Safety is currently monitoring the forecast track of Tropical Storm Isaac for any potential impacts to our area. No plans have been made to activate the Emergency Operations Center. At this time, residents should be preparing for the possibility of landfall in Northwest Florida.
- Review your disaster plan.
- Prepare your disaster kit to include water, clothing, medications and other necessary items. Remember, “The First 72 are on You!”
- If you are making plans to evacuate, make sure you leave yourself enough time. Take your disaster kit with you and notify a friend or family member of your intended location.
- Log onto www.bereadyescambia.com to find out if you live in an evacuation zone in the event evacuations are ordered.
- Take advantage of this weekend to prepare your yard and property for the arrival of the storm. Trim dead trees and secure yard furniture. Also, test your generator to make sure it works properly. If you get fuel for your generator, make sure you store it in an open area with proper ventilation and away from open flames.
- If you have horses that need shelter, contact the Escambia County Equestrian Center at 941-6042. Reservations are being taken at this time. Space is very limited and is given on a first come first serve basis.
- Escambia County is not offering any sand bags. Residents are encouraged to purchase their own bags and sand from a local hardware store if they feel the need to have sandbags protect their property.
Tonight’s Preseason Football Schedule
August 24, 2012
Here’s a schedule of area high school preseason football game tonight.
- Bay at Northview, 7 p.m.
- Jay at Baker, 7 p.m.
- Pensacola High at Tate, 7 p.m.
- West Florida High at Marianna, 7 p.m.
- Catholic High at Pine Forest, 7 p.m.
- Escambia at Fort Walton Beach, 7 p.m.
- Washington High at Niceville, 7 p.m.
- T.R. Miller at Flomaton, 7 p.m.
- Escambia County (Atmore) at Saraland, 7 p.m.
- Fort Dale at Escambia Academy
Want to see photos of your favorite team on NorthEscambia.com? Email your pictures to news@northescambia.com.
Latest Isaac Update
August 24, 2012
Eyes are on Isaac as the storm continues to churn on a course that may bring a Category 1 hurricane to the Northwest Florida area by next week. The latest information and forecast track on the storm are in the graphic above, click to enlarge.
Mosquito Spraying Planned In Cantonment, Gonzalez
August 23, 2012
The Escambia County Mosquito Control Division plans to spray in an area in the Cantonment and Gonzalez areas from 6:30 until 10:00.
Spraying will occur in four areas, bounded by:
- Kingsfield Road, Nine Mile Road, Chemstrand Road, Highway 95A
- Becks Lake Road, Old Chemstrand Road, Conference Road, Highway 95A
- Old Chemstrand Road, Boulder Creek Drive, Hornsby Drive, Highway 95A
- Quintette Road, Becks Lake Road, Parker Road, Highway 29
The following information was released by the Escambia County Mosquito Control Division:
Mosquito control administration and operations teams have directed surveillance activity, identified target mosquito species and determined that today’s justified actions are warranted. Methods used to determine necessary fogging mission activity include dry ice-baited light traps, landing rate counts and receiving focally located service requests from the public.
Fogging mission hours vary by start and conclusion times, but generally adult mosquito pesticides are applied in the early evening hours. We ask residents to keep travel in these areas to a minimum during spray times.
For additional information or to request service, please contact the Mosquito Control Division during normal business hours at 937-2188.
10 Mile Intersection To Close Tonight
August 23, 2012
The intersection of Motley Court and 10 Mile Road will experience temporary short term closure beginning 11 p.m. Thursday until 5 a.m. Friday. This closure is necessary to accommodate a drainage project happening in the area.
Emergency vehicles will have access to the area during this time.