Curfew Continues In Escambia County For The Next Two Nights
September 17, 2020
A county-wide curfew will be in place the next three nights in Escambia County, including Pensacola and Century, due to Hurricane Sally.
The curfew will be from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m.Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Officials will reassess the curfew on Friday.
Law enforcement will have roadblocks in place at some major roadways. The City of Pensacola is relying on voluntary compliance, and residents will be expected to follow the curfew.
Essential workers are not restricted by the curfew, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Rubio, Scott Want To Keep U.S. On Daylight Savings Time This Year
September 17, 2020
Florida Republican senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio have introduced legislation that would keep the United States on Daylight Saving Time (DST) through November 7, 2021.
By preventing the United States from “falling back” to Standard Time in six weeks, Americans would also avoid changing clocks in March 2021 when the United States typically springs forward into DST.
“The bill would provide one year of stability for families who are already dealing with enough change with virtual learning, work from home, and other disruptions the COVID-19 pandemic has placed into our daily lives,” according to a press release from Rubio.
“Our government has asked a lot of the American people over the past seven months, and keeping the nation on Daylight Saving Time is just one small step we can take to help ease the burden,” Rubio said. “More daylight in the after school hours is critical to helping families and children endure this challenging school year. Studies have shown many benefits of a year-round Daylight Saving Time, and while I believe we should make it permanent all year around, I urge my colleagues to — at the very least — work with me to avoid changing the clocks this fall.”
“After months of staying inside amid the coronavirus pandemic, families across the nation could use a little more sunshine and time to enjoy all that Florida has to offer,” Scott said. “I signed legislation as Governor to continue Daylight Saving Time year-round for Floridians, and I’m glad to join Senator Rubio to lead this effort in Congress.”
Recognizing legislative days prior to November 1 are limited, Senator Rubio will “Rule 14” the bill, which means the bill will bypass the Senate Committee on Commerce and be placed directly on the Senate calendar.
In March 2019, Senator Rubio re-introduced the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make DST permanent across the country. The bill reflects the Florida legislature’s 2018 enactment of year-round DST; however, for Florida’s change to apply, a change in the federal statute is required. 11 other states —Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, Arkansas, Alabama, and Wyoming — have passed similar laws, and dozens more are looking. In 2018, California voters overwhelmingly passed a proposition to authorize the state legislature to move to permanent DST.
Curfew In Effect For Escambia County For The Next Three Nights
September 16, 2020
A county-wide curfew will be in place the next three nights in Escambia County, including Pensacola and Century, due to Hurricane Sally.
The curfew will be from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m.Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Officials will reassess the curfew on Friday.
Law enforcement will have roadblocks in place at some major roadways. The City of Pensacola is relying on voluntary compliance, and residents will be expected to follow the curfew.
Essential workers are not restricted by the curfew, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Almost All Of Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties Left Without Power
September 16, 2020
Almost all of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were left without power following Hurricane Sally.
Here are the numbers from both counties as of Wednesday later afternoon:
Gulf Power reported 145,920 outages among 153,000 customers in Escambia County; and 48,890 outages out of 74,200 customers in Santa Rosa County.
Escambia River Electric (EREC) reported 10,919 outages out of 11,463 total customers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Both utilities said they are working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.
File photo.
Health Advisory Issued For Water Bodies Including Rivers, Creeks, Gulf
September 16, 2020
Due to excessive flood and sewage overflows caused by the significant rainfall from Hurricane Sally, the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County has issued a health advisory for all inland and coastal waters including local rivers, streams, bayous, bays and the Gulf of Mexico.
DOH-Escambia advises against engaging in any water-related activities due to the potential for high bacteria levels.
The health department will continue to monitor the water quality in these areas and update the public.
Stay Off The Roads: Many Roads Flooded, Water Rescues Underway
September 16, 2020
Officials are asking that drivers stay off the roads at this time in Escambia County. Many roads are flooded or have debris on them.
Someone was reportedly rescued after driving into the water pictured here on Highway 29 this morning in Molino.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com
Section Of New Three Mile Bridge Is Missing Following Hurricane Sally; Crane Also Collapses Onto Bridge
September 16, 2020
Authorities say that at least one section of the new Three Mile Bridge across Pensacola Bay is missing due to Hurricane Sally.
A large crane fell across the bridge, and there are reports of additional barge strikes.
The bridge will obviously remain closed for a lengthy period of time for repairs. The exact extent of damage won’t be known until conditions improve and engineers can begin inspections.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Category 1 Hurricane Sally Continues To Hit Escambia County With 80 MPH Winds
September 16, 2020
Winds in Hurricane Sally decreased to 80 mph as of 10 a.m.. The storm made landfall Wednesday in Gulf Shores with winds of 105 mph at 4:45 a.m.
10 AM UPDATE
HURRICANE AND FLOOD WARNINGS CONTINUE
At 1000 AM CDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Sally was located
by NWS Doppler radar and surface observations near latitude 30.6
North, longitude 87.4 West. Sally is moving toward the north-
northeast near 5 mph (7 km/h), and a north-northeastward to
northeastward motion at a slightly faster forward speed is expected
later today and tonight. A faster northeastward motion is forecast
Thursday and Thursday night. On the forecast track, the center of
Sally will move across the extreme western Florida panhandle and
southeastern Alabama through early Thursday, move over central
Georgia on Thursday, and move over South Carolina Thursday night.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 80 mph (130 km/h)
with higher gusts. Additional weakening is expected as the center
moves farther inland this afternoon and tonight, and Sally is
forecast to become a tropical depression by Thursday morning.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles
(205 km).
RAINFALL: Through this afternoon, Sally will produce additional
rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches with localized higher amounts
possible along and just inland of the central Gulf Coast from west
of Tallahassee, Florida to Mobile Bay, Alabama. Storm totals of 10
to 20 inches to isolated amounts of 35 inches are expected. Historic
and catastrophic flooding, including widespread moderate to major
river flooding, is unfolding
WIND: Hurricane conditions will continue this afternoon within
portions of the hurricane warning area in Florida and Alabama.
Tropical storm conditions will continue in portions of the warning
areas through tonight.
TORNADOES: A few tornadoes may occur today and tonight across
portions of the Florida Panhandle, southeast Alabama, and southwest
Georgia.
NorthEscambia.com will update this story, and the graphics on this page will continually update with the latest information from the National Hurricane Center.
The latest specific information is in the graphics on this page.
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High Water Rescues Underway Across Escambia County, Including Cantonment
September 16, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriffs Office, National Guard and Escambia County Fire Rescue are using high water vehicles to rescue people in homes in Bristol Park in Cantonment and neighborhoods off of Blue Angel near Dog Track Road, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
There are reports of people trapped by water across Escambia County.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
National Guard Troops Deployed To Escambia County With High Water Rescue Vehicles
September 16, 2020
National Guard troops were deployed in Escambia County to assist with Hurricane Sally rescues.
Florida Sen. Doug Broxson said that 125 members of the Florida National Guard were deployed in the county along with high water rescue vehicles. The vehicles were staged at the Escambia Fire Rescue Stations in Molino, Beulah, Ensley, Myrtle Grove, Warrington and the Pensacola fire station on North Davis Highway. The vehicles can be driven through several feet of water.
Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, the National Guard used the vehicles to respond to multiple calls throughout the county alongside Escambia Fire Rescue.
Pictured top: Escambia Fire Rescue Engine 6 “B” watch with a Florida National Guard support unit Tuesday night. Pictured below: National Guard high water rescue vehicles at the Ensley and Molinos stations of Escambia Fire Rescue. NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
