Some Localized Flooding, No Tornadoes, Escambia Public Safety Director Says
August 30, 2021
Escambia County has experienced some localized flooding due to the outer rain bands of Ida, but there’s been no significant weather damage so far.
“Last 24 hours, we’ve had rain bands come in to give us localized flooding as we predicted. We have seen a couple of tornado warnings in the area with no tornadoes that have been produced,” said Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore said early Monday afternoon.
“We’ve faired much better than our counterparts to the west,” he said. “We expect additional rain bands coming in throughout the rest of the day into tonight. We’ll see localized flooding out of that. But we’re been fortunate so far that when the rain bands come in, we’ve had enough time between bands that we get drainage. So if we continue that pattern, we shouldn’t see any major issues in Escambia County.”
There was flooding Sunday at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 but that subsided. As is normal with heavy rain events, the Barrineau Park Bridge from Escambia County to Alabama is now underwater.
Pictured: Flooding Sunday at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97. The water has subsided. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Utility Crews To Help With Louisiana Power Restoration
August 30, 2021
Florida Power & Light Company, the parent company of Gulf Power, is deploying employees and contractors to support power restoration after Hurricane Ida. A team of more than 750 employees and contractors will assist Entergy Louisiana and Cleco with their restoration.
“As Floridians who have faced dangerous hurricanes like Andrew and Michael before, we understand how critical it is to have support from other utilities during restoration events,” said FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy. “Just as our neighboring utilities have come to Florida to support us, we will be there for our brothers and sisters in need, getting their communities back up and running safely. Hurricane Ida is a very dangerous storm. Our thoughts and prayers are with those in the storm’s path.”
The workers, who began their journey Sunday morning, will travel to Louisiana to help wherever they are needed.
AAA: Hurricane Ida Likely To Cause Higher Gas Prices
August 30, 2021
Florida drivers could soon feel the effects of Hurricane Ida, in the form of higher gas prices, according to AAA. While a gas price hike appears imminent, it’s still unclear how much of a increase drivers will see.
The average price for gasoline in Florida was $2.95 per gallon Sunday. The state average has slowly declined over the course of the past three weeks, after setting a new 2021 high of $3.03 on August 5th. A week ago, it appeared that prices were poised to decline even further, after futures prices plummeted, in response to the spread of COVID-19. However, futures prices rebounded last week, due to concerns about what the storm could do to the Gulf Coast fuel supply chain. Sunday night, futures prices spiked again in overnight trading.
Sunday night, the average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.02. A North Escambia low of $2.86 could be found Sunday at a Highway 29 station in Cantonment. Pensacola’s lowest price was $2.77 Sunday evening.
Hurricanes don’t always cause gas prices to rise, but when a major storm moves into the Gulf Coast, that’s another story. Hurricane Ida made landfall along the Gulf Coast, a region populated with offshore oil rigs, coastal crude oil refineries, terminals and ports.
Refineries in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama account for more than 45% of the nation’s capacity for refining crude oil into gasoline and other important products. Additionally, the region is home to nearly 2,000 offshore oil platforms, which accounts for 17% of the nation’s crude oil production.
“Drivers will almost assuredly see gas prices rise this week, because of Hurricane Ida’s effects on the Gulf Coast,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Based on overnight movement in the futures market, a 10-20 cent jump at the pump is not out of the question. Where gas prices go from here will depend on the extent of the damage and how long it will take for fuel production and transportation lines to return to normal.”
Highway 29, Highway 97 Intersection Flooded Sunday By Hurricane Ida
August 30, 2021
The intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino was flooded for awhile Sunday by rains from Hurricane Ida.
Highway 29 is the major north-south corridor through Escambia County.
Reader images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Community Mourns Passing Of Retired Deputy
August 29, 2021
The community is mourning the passing of a former sheriff’s deputy and youth sports coach.
Retired Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Jamey Kahalley served the citizens of Santa Rosa County for 20 years before his retirement in 2019.
Kahalley, a lifelong resident of Molino, was a 1976 graduate of Tate High School. He coached for several years at Don Sutton Ballpark, for the Cantonment Cowboys and the Ensley Chiefs.
For the complete obituary click or tap here.
Bonus Photo Gallery: Northview, Flomaton Cheerleaders And Bands
August 29, 2021
Here is a bonus photo gallery with cheerleaders and bands from Friday night Northview at Flomaton game. Click here to view.
For a game action summary and photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Woman Struck And Killed By Car Driven By Atmore Man
August 29, 2021
A pedestrian died Saturday night in Escambia County after she was struck by a vehicle driven by an Atmore man.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a Chrysler sedan was traveling northbound on South Fairfield Drive approaching Jackson Street when it struck a pedestrian walking along the white line on the edge of the roadway.
The 59-year old female pedestrian from Pensacola was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 8:14 p.m. crash. The driver of the Chrysler, a 30-year old man from Atmore, was not injured.
The FHP no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.
Tornado Watch, Wind Advisory, Flash Flood Warning In Effect Locally Due To Hurricane Ida
August 29, 2021
A tornado watch, wind advisory, and flash flood warning are in effect.
For the latest tropical details on Hurricane Ida, click or tap here.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 73. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Monday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 82. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 73. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 84. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
This Week’s Road Construction Advisories
August 29, 2021
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement - Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30 through Saturday, Sept. 4. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure. Additional work will include installation of pier lighting.
- North Ninth Avenue (State Road (S.R.) 289) Carpenters Creek Bridge Replacement- All travel lanes are temporarily shifted to the northbound side of the bridge as crews replace the southbound portion of the structure. In addition, drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures as crews mobilize materials and equipment.
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing from South of Muscogee Road (County Road (C.R.) 184) to Atmore Highway (S.R. 97) – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Sunday, Aug. 29 through Friday, Sep. 3 as crews perform striping operations and signal work.
- West Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project – Drivers will encounter inside lane closures between North Pace Boulevard and approximately H Street as crews perform median improvement work. Drivers are reminded the speed between Dominguez Street and A Street is 30 mph.
- Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Pine Forest (S.R. 297) to U.S. 29 – Drivers will encounter intermittent east and westbound traffic shifts between Pine Forest Road and U.S. 29 to allow crews to pave driveway tie-ins and place the final layer of asphalt.
- Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) Widening from Beulah Road to S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) – Drivers will encounter alternating and intermittent east and westbound lane closures and traffic shifts between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. for paving operations and other construction activities.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Intersection Improvements at the Innerarity Point (C.R. 292A)–
Motorists can expect daytime shoulder closures the week of Monday, Aug. 30 as crews place a watermain.
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90) – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on U.S. 29, between I-10 and Nine and Half Mile Road, and on Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass.
- I-10 Routine Maintenance Between Mile-Marker 5 (US 90A) to 19 (East of U.S. 90/Scenic Highway) – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures from 8 p.m. Sunday Aug. 29 to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30 as crews repair lighting.
- Interstate 110 Routine Maintenance– North and southbound motorists can expect intermittent lane closures from 8 p.m. Sunday Aug. 29 to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30 as crews repair lighting.
- S.R. 85 Routine Utility Maintenance at S.R. 20 Intersection – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures from 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept 2 to 5 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3 as crews perform routine utility maintenance.
- U.S. 98 (East Garde Street) Routine Underground Utility Maintenance at Jefferson Street Intersection – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures the week of Monday, Aug. 30 as crews perform underground utility maintenance.
- S.R. 296 (Bayou Boulevard) Routine Utility Maintenance near Buffalo Wild Wings – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures from 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31 as crews relocate a utility pole.
Santa Rosa County
- Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Replacement - Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and lane shifts on the Pensacola Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30 through Saturday, Sept. 4. Crews will be using lanes on the current bridge as a platform to pour concrete decks for the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) structure. Additional work will include installation of pier lighting.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Crews continue utility relocations, clearing, excavation, drainage improvements, and pond construction. There are anticipated traffic impacts.
- I-10 Resurfacing East of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures on the Blackwater River bridge 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 29 through Thursday, Sept. 3 as crews perform paving operations.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Still Mail Letters? Stamp Prices Increased Today
August 29, 2021
If you mail a letter or that birthday card to grandma, it will cost you more beginning today..
The U.S. Postal Service has raised the price of a first-class stamp from 55 cents to 58 cents — that’s 60 cents more for a book of 20 stamps. Domestic postcards increased from 36 cents to 40 cents.
If you are holding on to “Forever Stamps” — they are still good at the new rate regardless of the price you paid.
First-class single-piece flat mail went from $1 to $1.16. Certified mail increased from $3.60 to $3.75 and registered went from $12.90 to $13.75.
This is the second time the Post Office has raised the cost of mail this year; the first rate increase took effect back on January 24.
Pictured: The Cantonment Post Office. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.