Escambia Writes Directly To Trump Seeking Individual Assistance
September 26, 2020
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, the City of Pensacola Mayor and local state delegation members have sent a letter to the President of the United States requesting FEMA Individual Disaster Assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally. The Florida Panhandle was hit with a Category 2 hurricane on Sept. 16, 2020 with over 105 mph sustained wind, gusts up to 123 mph, over 30 inches of rain and water inundation as high as 15 feet in the Perdido Key area.
President Trump has declared a major disaster exists in Florida from Hurricane Sally, including Escambia County, Florida, for all public assistance, including direct federal assistance, for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Individual assistance is still under review. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state as warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
Escambia County residents that have sustained damage to their home or business are asked to email photos of the damage, along with their address or neighborhood and a brief description of the damage (200 words or less) to hurricanesally@myescambia.com. Include the address or neighborhood in the subject line.
To read the letter to Trump, click or tap here.
Drop-Off Locations Available for Residential Vegetative Hurricane Debris
September 26, 2020
In addition to curbside removal of debris for residents, drop off sites in Escambia County are accepting vegetative debris only generated by Hurricane Sally.
Drop off locations are available from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
- Escambia County Equestrian Center at 7750 Mobile Highway
- John R. Jones Athletic Complex at 555 East Nine Mile Road
- Oak Grove Convenience Center at 745 North Highway 99
- Baars Field at 13020 Sorrento Road
- Lexington Terrace at 900 S Old Corry Field Road
- Park East at 1233-1235 at Fort Pickens Road
These are free sites for Escambia County residents with identification or proof of residency. These locations are only for private residential use only; no commercial debris will be accepted. Construction and demolition debris, household hazardous waste and bulky waste should be left at the curbside for right of way pickup.
Pictured: The Oak Grove Convenience Center. (Note that the fees listed on the sign do not apply to Hurricane Sally Debris)
Cleaning Up This Weekend? Here’s How You Separate Hurricane Debris
September 26, 2020
Curbside removal of Hurricane Sally debris removal in now underway in Escambia County.
Escambia County residents, that can safely do so, are asked to place any storm-generated debris on the public right of way (the area of residential property that extends from the street to the sidewalk, ditch, utility pole or easement.)
Debris that was generated by Hurricane Sally should be placed and sorted on the area immediately adjoining the road in front of your home. The county has divided its jurisdiction into three zones and contracted with three separate companies to accomplish the debris removal in 90 days.
Residents are urged to separate the debris as follows:
- Vegetative Debris (whole trees, tree stumps, tree branches, tree trunks and other leafy material)
- Construction and Demolition Debris (damaged components of buildings and structures such lumber and wood, wall board, glass, metal, roofing materials, tile, furnishings and fixtures)
- Appliances and White Goods (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, heat pumps, ovens, ranges, washing machines, clothes dryers and water heaters)
- Electronic Waste (computers, televisions, office electronic equipment, etc.)
- Household Hazardous Waste (materials that are ignitable, reactive, toxic or corrosive such as paints, cleaners, pesticides, etc.)
- Only loose debris will be collected; bagged debris should not be placed on the public right of way. Make every attempt to avoid stacking debris below low hanging power or utility lines.
Do not place debris within four feet of:
- Mailboxes
- Water meters
- Fire hydrants, or any other above-ground utility
- Only debris placed on the public right of way will be eligible for collection until further notice.
If all debris is not picked up during the initial pass, please continue to push remaining debris to the right of way for collection on subsequent passes.
Northview Chiefs Open Season With 39-6 Win Over Holmes County
September 26, 2020
The Northview Chiefs opened their pandemic shortened season with a 39-6 win over the Holmes County Blue Devils on their home turf Friday night in Bratt.
In the debut for new Northview Head Coach Wes Summerford, the Chiefs were first on the board 6-0 with a Logan Bryan touchdown.
After a couple of strong runs from senior Jayden Jackson, Jamarcus Jefferson was in for another Chiefs TD. Also on deck for the Chiefs scoring was quarterback Kaden Odom on a 67-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson topped off with a two-point conversion from Jackson. Odom also had an 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
Next Friday night, the Chiefs will head north to Canoe to face the Cougars of Escambia County at 7 p.m.
For a photo gallery, click here. (Includes game action, band and cheerleaders.)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Finals
September 26, 2020
Here are North Escambia area high school football scores:
FLORIDA
- Northview 39, Holmes County 6 [Click for photos, story]
- Flomaton 42, Jay 0
- Tate at Washington (1pm Saturday)
- West Florida at Escambia (2pm Saturday)
- Pine Forest at Pensacola Catholic (7pm Saturday)
ALABAMA
- Escambia County 35, Monroe County 6
- Escambia Academy 28, Tuscaloosa Academy 13
- Flomaton 42, Jay 0
- W.S. Neal 44, New Brockton 25
- UMS Wright 21, T.R. Miller 12
Pictured: In Escambia County’s only game Friday night, the Northview Chiefs defeated Holmes County 39-6. The other Escambia County teams will play Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Making Mass Shooting Threats Against UWF
September 25, 2020
A Pace man has been arrested for allegedly making numerous threats to commit a mass school shooting at the University of West Florida.
Shane Rei Davis, 23, was arrested by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the FBI after they acted on a confidential tip. He was charged with intimidation sending a written threat to conduct mass shoot and booked into te Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $1 million.
“The threats were very specific in nature and were taken extremely seriously by law enforcement,” SRSO Sgt. Rich Aloy said.
The threats were made while Davis talked to other gamers in the video game Valorant, described as a character based tactical shooter game.
According on a arrest report, Davis made the following comments via an in-game chat that was visible to other online players:
“I just have to get 34 kills to be a legend”
“But I calculate around 50″
“You will see the biggest school shooting”
“I’ll carry more ammo than these unprepared r******”
“I will be a legend”
“You will all feel my pain.
“Surprising Asian Americans are always the top of school shooters, right?”
“The University took immediate action and is cooperating with authorities to the fullest extent of the law,” UWF said in an email to students. “The safety of the campus community is the University’s top priority.”
Florida Reopens Phase 3: DeSantis Lifts Restrictions On Restaurants, Other Businesses
September 25, 2020
Florida has entered the third phase of reopening effective immediately, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday. That allows all businesses to reopen as COVID-19 restrictions loosen.
The order removes all state-love restrictions and removes the ability of local governments to close businesses and assess fines on individuals. The change effects mostly restaurants and bars, which had been restricted to 50% capacity.
While a local government can’t close a business under the order, they can still limit and regulate businesses.
“You can’t just say no,” DeSantis said. “You can’t say no after six months and just have people twisting in the wind.”
The exception to that is restaurants. Restaurants cannot be restricted further than 50% capacity, and local governments must justify it from an economic and health perspective.
“This is a very difficult industry to succeed in,” DeSantis said, adding the idea that government should lead on restrictions rather than self-imposed business practices “misplaced.”
Local governments cannot collect and fines or fees on individuals, and that includes to enforce a mask mandate.
Officials Plead With Public To Help Because Hurricane Sally Federal Individual Assistance Not Approved
September 25, 2020
Escambia County Commission Chairman Steven Barry and Senator Doug Broxson both say they are highly disappointed that a federal disaster declaration does not include any help for individuals and families.
“If John Doe makes an application to FEMA and he is denied, that’s one thing. If he doesn’t have the opportunity to apply for that direct assistance, that’s unfair. We have had a tremendous loss, and that’s unfair to our citizenry to not have the opportunity to apply. The merits of everybody’s situation is going to merit the award, but we have to have the opportunity for our people to apply,” Barry said.
What is called an Individual and Households Program (IHP) declaration that, simply put, helps people, was missing from the federal disaster declaration issued by President Donald Trump. It provides federal funds for home repairs, temporary housing, and additional programs for individuals and businesses.
“This is a different storm; it’s gotten different response from FEMA,” Broxson said. “Frankly, I’m very disappointed with that. We checked all the boxes, and there’s a narrative out that jutt it was not a big enough storm to get the attention of nation that would appall them about what we saw last week.”
The country launched an effort Wednesday on NorthEscambia.com to ask the public for help in the plea for individual assistance. Residents are still asked to gather several photos that show their damage, write a short email (up to 200 words) telling their story about Hurricane Sally damage, include the physical address of the damage and send the email to hurricanesally@myescambia.com..
By 5:30 p.m. Thursday, 516 residents had submitted their photographs and damage information, Barry said.
Barry and Broxson both expressed possible reasons the individual assistance declaration has not yet come down the pipe from Washington.
“We’ve been told that the folks that were in town and and doing assessments on the federal level didn’t see as much damage as they might have thought that they were going to see or maybe that they’ve seen in the past,” Barry said. “I would dare sare that had a lot to do with whether it’s a COVID issue, or the amount of boots that were on the ground here or the amount of time that was spent here.”
“There’s a tremendous amount of damage; I know it,” he continued. “I know my colleagues know it.”We’ve had two board meetings this week, and each of us to a person have limited the damage and the hurt that’s in our communities. So we know it exists. We know as a board and as a county that we deserve individual assistance.”
Broxson said FEMA would normally have a team of 300-400 people on the ground for a storm survey, but they did not due to COVID-19.
“To be very blunt with you, we’ve checked every box that we’ve always checked, and we’ve gotten a different response. That’s very disappointing, and hopefully we are going to see something happen more robust next week,” Broxson said. “Historically, I’ve never seen them not writing checks at this point. Very disappointing, and that’s after having the director here this weekend….You can’t see from 1,000 feet what is inside someone’s living room or the fact they’ve lost everything.”
“I can’t implore to the citizenry how important that aspect is,” Barry added. “Having been in office for a little while now and serving through the floods of 2014 the individual assistance part is what that’s what’s going to put money in the citizens household. I mean, that’s where it’s going to be direct financial assistance to our residents that have been been damaged, that have been harmed. So I don’t think the impact of that can be overstated.”
Pensacola Council Keeps Mask Mandate In Place, Rejecting Mayor’s Proposal
September 25, 2020
The Pensacola City Council has rejected a proposal by Mayor Grover Robinson to end a mask mandate in the city.
Robinson proposed that the mandate be dropped because hospitalizations have continued to decline.
Some of the council members said they were concerned about dropping the mask mandate during the hurricane recovery period, but most expressed it might be a better idea in the future.
The current mandate, approved by the city council in late June, requires face coverings by employees and patrons in Pensacola businesses, and it also adds fines for violations. The ordinance applies only within the city limits of Pensacola, not in unincorporated Escambia County.
The ordinance includes exceptions that include young children, medical conditions and persons that are eating and drinking.
Applications Open Today For Escambia CARES Family Emergency Financial Assistance Grants
September 25, 2020
Escambia County is accepting application from 8 a.m. Friday until 8 p.m. Tuesday for Escambia CARES Family Emergency Financial Assistance Grants.
Applications will be accepted online at myescambia.com/CARES and at several physical locations throughout the county.
Those needing assistance or who do not have access to the internet and wish to apply with paper forms instead of online can visit one of the 10 fully-staffed application assistance centers located throughout the county, with at least one location available in each district.
These locations will be staffed for in-person application assistance during the grant application window, Friday, Sept. 25, through Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and from noon to 5 p.m. weekends (unless otherwise noted):
- Beulah Senior Citizens Center, 7425 Woodside Drive
- Open Friday, Sept. 25, from 1 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, from noon to 5 p.m.; and Monday, Sept. 28, and Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 1 to 8 p.m.
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto St.
- Carver Park Resource Center, 208 Webb St.
- Century Branch Library, 7991 N. Century Blvd.
- Dorrie Miller Community Center, 2819 N. Miller St.
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road
- Gull Point Community Center, 7000 Spanish Trail
- Marie K. Young Wedgewood Community Center, 6405 Wagner Road
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95-A North
- Walnut Hill Community Center, 7850 Highway 97 North
Escambia County has allocated more than $3.5 million of CARES Act funding to provide grants of $2,000 each to families who have been impacted by COVID-19 and need of assistance. Escambia CARES Family Emergency Financial Assistance Grants will be dispersed on a first-qualified, first-served basis.
To be eligible for the Escambia CARES Family Emergency Financial Assistance Grant, applicants must:
- Be residents of Escambia County.
- Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a household income of $45,000 or less.
- Have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
To apply for the Escambia CARES Family Emergency Financial Assistance Grant, applicants will need to provide:
- Certification of COVID-19 impact
- Copy of a valid, state-issued ID
- Copy of Social Security card or other proof of a Social Security number
- Tax-Filers: Copy of the first page of their 2019 federal tax return (IRS form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ)
- Non-Tax Filers: Self-Certification letter stating why you did not file a 2019 Federal Income Tax Return and/or the type of income you received – Social Security Benefits (SSA, SSI/SSD), Railroad Retirement, Veterans Affairs Pension, Disability Benefits, etc.
- A completed W-9 form. Click here for the fillable W-9 Form.
For more information on the Escambia Cares Family Emergency Financial Assistance Grant, visit the program’s list of Frequently Asked Questions.