Florida Sails Through Another Hurricane Season Without A Major Hit
November 29, 2013
Florida is about to sail through another hurricane season — its eighth consecutive — free from a named storm severely pounding the state’s shores.
With Saturday the last official day of this year’s hurricane season, credit a combination of atmospheric conditions for keeping down the number of storms that threatened Florida.
“Even though the storms could generate some fuel from the ocean, more wind shear came in over the Atlantic than we really thought might happen, and there was a lot of Saharan dust that blew off Africa, so there wasn’t a whole lot of energy for them to really get strong,” state meteorologist Amy Godsey said Monday.
The pre-season forecast for the June-through-November storm season for the Atlantic and Caribbean was for 12 to 18 named storms, with between six and 10 reaching hurricane status.
The Atlantic and Caribbean region did record 13 named storms this year, of which only two grew into hurricanes, both in September and both category 1.
Humberto formed off Cape Verde, while the deadly Ingrid landed in Tamaulipas, Mexico.
The number of hurricanes was the lowest for a year in the Atlantic since 1994, Godsey said.
Godsey said it’s just a matter of luck for Florida, which has avoided hurricanes since the 2004 and 2005 seasons when seven hit the state.
“If the ocean currents and steering currents and the atmosphere were just shifted a little bit, those two hurricanes might have come to the United States,” she said. “So it could have been a very different year for us if just a few things had been tweaked.”
The first of the named tropical storms this year did cause some widespread flooding in South Florida, while two other tropical systems provided a few moments of concern for emergency managers.
“We started off with tropical storm Andrea and we thought we were in for the long haul, but it turned out to be one of the quietest years on record, which we’re pleased about,” said Bryan Koon, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “Every year that Florida doesn’t have a hurricane is better for the citizens of Florida.”
Andrea swept through the Big Bend the first week in June, with its outer bands dumping more than 13 inches of rain into areas of South Florida.
But afterward, the season was relatively calm for Floridians.
In early August, tropical storm Dorian regenerated into a tropical depression just east of Florida, while tropical storm Karen did threaten the Gulf Coast — causing the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Interior to call furloughed workers back from the federal government shutdown — before breaking up prior to reaching Northwest Florida in early October.
The lack of Florida impacts is good news for property owners, as the state’s Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, which provides back-up coverage for insurers, has reached what is considered its best-ever fiscal shape.
The growth in financial reserves also provides a cushion in the event claims need to be paid in coastal areas by the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. If Citizens or the catastrophe fund don’t have enough money in reserves to pay hurricane claims, property owners throughout the state can get hit with extra charges known as assessments.
“We are stronger as an overall insurance system, able to quickly handle claims from most hurricanes and without or with lower statewide assessments,” Sam Miller, executive vice president of the Florida Insurance Council, said in an email. “Without healthy cash on hand, there might be assessments from both which would produce significant increase in rates.”
With a focus on other potential disasters befalling the state over the next few months, including the annual threat of wildfires, emergency management officials now head into another off-season trying to remind people not to become complacent about future storm preparations.
“There is, however, the potential for the longer you go without hurricanes for people to forget the impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms and the devastating impacts that they can have,” Koon said. “As more and more people move to Florida each year, we need to make sure that we continue to do a good job of educating our citizens about the potential for those storms, because we will have them again.”
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Police Seek Tips On Stolen Yamaha Four-Wheeler
November 29, 2013
The Flomaton Police Department is looking for tips on a stolen four-wheeler. The Yamaha 6-speed four-wheeler was stolen from the back of the victim’s truck on Titi Street in Flomaton during the early morning hours Wednesday. Anyone with information is asked to call the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811. Callers can remain anonymous. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Cited After Hwy 29, Hwy 97 Log Truck Wreck
November 28, 2013
There were no injuries when an 18-wheeler hauling logs overturned early this morning at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 33-year old Jermie Capers of Century was eastbound in the Tom Thumb parking lot and stopped at the stop sign. He entered the intersection about 2:45 a.m., failing to see a southbound Peterbuilt log truck. The driver of the log truck swerved to avoid a collision and traveled across all northbound lanes of Highway 29 and overturned the truck onto its driver’s side. Most of the logs came to rest off the roadway, causing blockage in just one northbound lane.
Capers, who was not injured, was cited was violation of right of way.
The driver of the log truck, 36-year old Bradley Wayne Capers, and his passenger, 42-year old William Leon Burgons, both of Andalusia, were treated on the scene for minor injuries and refused transport to the hospital.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Over 50 Christmas Trees Stolen From Lot That Benefits Tate Baseball
November 28, 2013
Over 50 Christmas trees were stolen from a lot in Cantonment that partially benefits the Tate High School baseball team.
The owner of the lot told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that over 50 North Carolina Fraser Firs were missing when she arrived Tuesday morning from the lot on Nine Mile Road. About 300 trees — some of which sell for $120 — were delivered on Monday. But Tuesday morning, only drag marks were left behind where the trees had been.
The trees ranged from 5-12 feet high and had a signature hole about the size of a dime drilled in the bottom. The stolen trees were worth an estimated $5,000.
Anyone with information on the thieves that stole the Christmas trees is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Man Gets Seven Years For 20 Minute High Speed Chase
November 28, 2013
A man that led Escambia County deputies on a high speed chase and sent several schools into lockdown mode last April has been sentenced to prison.
Ellis Roy Clark was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in state prison by Judge Scott Duncan for fleeing and eluding at high speed. He previously pleaded no contest to the charges.
Escambia County deputies responded to Village Mobile Home Park on Highway 29 about 10 a.m. on the morning of April 4 after a report of an armed disturbance. Clark had threatened the victim several times over a two day period and had returned to violently beat upon the victim’s door.
The victim had observed a handgun in Clark’s possession and also indicated he believed that he carried an AK47 in his trunk.
Clark was spotted driving a gold Ford Taurus leaving the trailer park. When deputies pulled behind him and activated their sirens, Clark fled at a high rate of speed. There were multiple units from the sheriff’s office involved in the pursuit of Clark. During the chase, Clark struck a 1989 Silverado at the intersection of Highway 29 and Ensley Street causing injuries to the driver.
The chase lasted more than 20 minutes with speeds exceeding 100 mph at various points. Clark ended up on Interstate Circle where deputies were able to prevent Clark from
going towards the schools on Longleaf Drive. Deputies were able to stop the vehicle and take Clark into custody. There were no firearms located.
Nearby Pine Forest High, West Florida High and Longleaf Elementary schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution.
Clark has an extensive criminal history record including possessions of cocaine, aggravated assault, battery on law enforcement, resisting officer with violence, and a previous fleeing and eluding of law enforcement.
Pictured top: The high speed pursuit of Roy Ellis Clark and his Ford Taurus (top photo) ended on Longleaf Drive not far from Pine Forest High School on April 4. NorthEscambia.com file photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
BBB Black Friday Tips
November 28, 2013
Black Friday has traditionally been the biggest retail shopping day of the year, although numerous stores will open on Thanksgiving Thursday this year.
Whether in the store or online, the Better Business Bureau serving Northwest Florida offers advice to help you with your holiday shopping:
- Budget your shopping money and stick to it. Avoid impulse buys.
- Look for the details on every sale and understand the specifics.
- Advertising can be tricky; don’t get stuck paying more for an item than you expected.
- Credit card offers from a store will offer a discount on your purchase but may also carry high interest rates.
- Keep all receipts and warranty information for each item purchased.
- Fraudulent charges are easier to fix if you pay with a credit card than a debit card.
- Return policies differ with every store. Make sure you know the conditions for returns and exchanges, including whether restocking fees are charged.
- If you purchase a gift card, look for hidden terms that can decrease its value.
- Don’t leave your wallet, credit card or purse on a counter or in an unattended shopping cart.
- Ask for a store manager if any advertised offer does not match the price listed on an item.
- Yelling at store employees and other customers won’t make the lines shorter. Anticipate crowds and take a friend along to enjoy the day.
- Credit cards provide the most protection if someone steals the credit card number or if you don’t receive an ordered item.
- You, the customer, are responsible for knowing and understanding each online retailer’s return/exchange policy.
- Beware of deals that sound too good to be true, especially extremely low priced on hard-to-get items.
- Ensure you have the most recent updates for spam filters, anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewalls installed.
- Read the site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used.
- Make a file to keep copies of all purchase confirmation web pages and e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
- Only shop on trustworthy sites; look for the BBB seal and other widely-recognized “trustmarks.”
- Never wire money to pay for a transaction and when on sites like Craigslist, only shop locally.
- Delete phishing emails such as those claiming a problem with an order or account in an attempt to lure the “buyer” into revealing financial information.
- Actively keep an eye on your credit card statements to detect suspicious or fraudulent activity on your accounts.
- You are your best protection! Make sure your online purchase is secure by looking for the “s” (https://) in the URL and the “lock” symbol in the lower-right corner before paying.
Woman Shot During Escambia Home Invasion Robbery
November 28, 2013
Deputies are searching for a suspect in a Monday night home invasion in Escambia County that left a woman with a gunshot wound to her face.
Just before 7 p.m., deputies responded to Gail Street in reference to a home invasion robbery with a gunshot victim. According to witnesses, three black males armed with handguns entered the female victim’s home and demanded money. When the suspects did not find what they wanted, they shot the woman in the face, deputies said. At least two more shots were fired at the house as the suspects fled the scene.
A witness reported a seafoam green, late 1990’s model Oldsmobile fleeing the scene. The victim was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Holiday Closings For Thanksgiving
November 28, 2013
The following will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Escambia County Schools (Wed-Fri)
- Santa Rosa County School (Wed-Fri)
- Escambia (Fla. & Ala.) and Santa Rosa county offices (Thur-Fri)
- Century, Jay, Milton, Pensacola, Atmore, Flomaton city offices (Thur-Fri)
- Perdido Landfill (Thurs, landfill open Fri, offices open Mon)
- U.S. Post Office — retail windows closed, no mail delivery or collection (Thur)
- Florida state offices (Thur-Fri)
- Federal offices (Thur-Fri)
- No bus service from ECAT on Thursday
- West Florida Public Libraries, including Century Branch (Thur-Fri)
- Santa Rosa libraries (Thur-Sun)
- Pensacola State College
- University of West Florida
ECUA Garbage:
ECUA’s Thursday residential routes will be collected Friday, and Friday’s routes will be collected on Saturday. Thursday’s commercial routes were picked up on Wednesday; Friday commercial routes will be picked up as usual.
Turkey Time Cooking Tips
November 28, 2013
It’s Thanksgiving, time for family and friends to gather and give thanks. And time for cooks to ponder the correct way to prepare their turkey.
Today, we are taking a look at the proper way to cook your turkey with tips from Dorthy Lee, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent for the Escambia County Extension Office.
Clean
Begin every meal preparation with clean hands, and wash hands frequently to prevent any cross contamination. As a rule, hands that have come in contact with raw meat or poultry should be washed for twenty seconds in hot, soapy water.
Separate
Raw meat and poultry products may contain harmful bacteria, so make certain that the juices from those products do not come in contact with food that will be eaten without cooking, like the salad. Also, never place cooked food on an unwashed plate that previously held raw meat or poultry.
Cook
Use of food thermometer should be a standard operating procedure in your kitchen and, when used correctly, will ensure that your turkey is cooked to perfection. To be safe, the
temperature of a whole turkey should reach 180°F between the breast and the innermost part of the thigh.
If you stuff your turkey, the center of the stuffing must reach 165°F. If the stuffing has not reached 165°F, then continue cooking the turkey until it does. Let the turkey stand twenty minutes after removal from the oven before carving.
Chill
This is another important step because food-borne bacteria can grow while food sits unrefrigerated. Refrigerate or freeze perishable leftovers within two hours of cooking. To prepare your leftovers, remove any remaining stuffing from the cavity and cut turkey into small pieces. Slice the breast meat. Wings and legs may be left whole. Refrigerate stuffing and turkey separately in shallow containers.
Use or freeze leftover turkey and stuffing within three to four days, gravy within one to two days. Reheat thoroughly to a temperature of 165°F, or until hot and steaming.
For more information, call the Escambia County Extension office, (850) 475-5230.
Photos: Camp Fire Kids Celebrate Thanksgiving With Feast
November 28, 2013
Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center held a Thanksgiving feast this week for children and their parents. The daycare’s children, dressed as Pilgrims or Native Americans, held a program before the meal, singing songs and using sign language to ask everyone if they they were ready to eat before enjoying a full Thanksgiving meal.
Handmade toilet paper roll turkeys proclaimed some of the items that the children are thankful for, including moms, dads, siblings, other family, teachers, toys, God, pets and food.
Submitted photos by Pam Townson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
