NAS Pensacola Evacuates 4,500 Students
August 27, 2012
In preparation for Isaac, Naval Air Technical Training Center located aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) was set to evacuate nearly 4,500 students Monday
The students were transported to the Marine Logistics Base in Albany, GA, for temporary lodging until the storm passes and it is determined that if is safe to return to NASP.
Additionally, NASP will be closed to all but essential personnel on Tuesday, August 28th. The decision to keep the base closed on Wednesday will be made after effects of Tropical Storm Issac are evaluated on Tuesday. The base anticipates returning to normal duty and work hours on Thursday, August 30th. All non-essential personnel should contact their supervisors to determine when to return to work or for specific information.
PSC Cancels Classes
August 27, 2012
Pensacola State College has canceled all classes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Current plans are to reopen for classes on Thursday. The deadline to add/drop classes has been extended until Friday.
Workforce Escarosa Locations, Including Century, Closing
August 27, 2012
Workforce Escarosa’s administrative office and three one-stop center locations will be closed on Tuesday, August 28, and Wednesday, August 29, due to potential threats from Isaac. All locations are expected to resume normal business operations on Thursday, August 30, provided no building damage has occurred. All scheduled workshops, appointments, meetings and program activities have been canceled for 8/28 and 8/29. Customers are advised to monitor local media outlets for status updates.
Workforce Escarosa Locations:
Century One-Stop Center
8120 North Century Blvd.
Century, FL 32535
Administrative Office
9111 Sturdevant Street
Pensacola, FL 32514
Pensacola One-Stop Center
3670 North L Street
Pensacola, FL 32505
Milton One-Stop Center
5725 Highway 90
Milton, FL 32583
Urgent Call For Blood Donors
August 27, 2012
The Northwest Florida Blood Center has issued a call for residents to donate blood today before Isaac moves closer to the coast.
All blood centers are in operations and the Blood Center is asking all eligible donors to stop in at a branch location and donate today while weather conditions are still favorable in our area.
“Blood centers have had to cease operations in most of South Florida due to Isaac’s impact and it is highly likely Isaac will impact collections in Northwest Florida as the storm moves closer. The time to donate is now,” said Betty Roberts, spokesperson for the Northwest Florida Blood Center. “All blood types are urgently needed especially Rh negative blood types and platelets. Any person who is eligible to donate is encouraged to do so now, before the storm.”
In Escambia County, donations can be made at:
- Main Center, 1999 East 9 Mile Road (just east of Target).
- 9th Avenue Center, 2209 North 9th Avenue.
City Of Pensacola To Suspend Operations Tuesday
August 27, 2012
The City of Pensacola will suspend non-essential operations , Tuesday, August 28, ahead of Tropical Storm Isaac’s projected landfall to the west of the city. All City facilities, including City Hall, City of Pensacola neighborhood resource centers, West Florida Public Library branches, and all other City offices will close for the day.
The City of Pensacola will suspend sanitation collection on Tuesday, August 28, ahead of Tropical Storm Isaac’s projected landfall along the central Gulf Coast. Tuesday’s normal garbage, recycling, and yard trash collections will be delayed until Wednesday, August 29. Special pick-ups will also be suspended until Wednesday.
City sanitation customers normally scheduled for Tuesday collection should not place garbage and recycling containers at curbside until tropical storm force winds have passed and collection can resume on Wednesday. The projected collection schedule is subject to change depending on the projected path of the storm.
Pensacola and Escambia County remain under a Hurricane Warning, with hurricane conditions expected within the next 48 hours. The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners declared a Local State of Emergency at 3:10 p.m. on Sunday, August 26, 2012.
Escambia County has also issued an order of evacuation for Zones A, B and C. That area includes most of Downtown Pensacola south of Garden Street as well as portions of the Sanders Beach neighborhood. Residents can check www.bereadyescambia.com and use the address look-up tool to confirm whether or not they are in an evacuation zone.
The Escambia County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated at 7:00 am on Monday, August 27. Escambia County has also activated the Citizen Information Center (CIC), allowing residents to call (850) 471-6600 for information.
Pensacola International Airport: As of 8:00 AM CDT Monday, Pensacola International Airport (PNS) remains open, but due to inclement weather statewide, the Airport is experiencing airline cancellations. PNS recommends passengers contact their air carrier for flight information. Phone numbers for airlines can be found at www.flypensacola.com.
Race Against Time To Save Area Corn Crop
August 27, 2012
North Escambia area farmers are in a race against time to save their corn crops.
With the approach of Isaac, Escambia Grain in Walnut Hill has been open 24 hours a day for most of the past week to accept the harvesting corn for storage or market.
“There is still a considerable amount of corn in the field and chances are that high winds will blow the corn over and make it hard or impossible to harvest,” said Escambia Grain manager James Formby.
With a plentiful harvest, Formby said his grain elevator as well as most other grain facilities in the area are almost at capacity.
Corn prices reached an all-time high in June of this year, and the drought across large portions of the U.S. has keep prices high.
Pictured above: A load of corn is weighed Sunday morning at Escambia Grain in Walnut Hill. Pictured below: Trucks line up along Arthur Brown Road waiting to unload. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Update: Only Two Shelters To Remain Open In Escambia County
August 27, 2012
Only two shelters are to remain open in Escambia County. They are at Pensacola and West Florida high schools.
Cantonment Ballpark Cancels All Practices
August 27, 2012
There will be no practices at the Cantonment Ballpark until further notice.
The park will be secured Monday and an assessment will be done on the property and fields on Thursday.
Gulf Power, EREC Ready With Extra Crews To Restore Power Quickly
August 27, 2012
Both Gulf Power Company and Escambia River Electric Cooperative are ready to respond quickly to power outages should they occur as a result of Isaac.
Escambia River Electric
“EREC has additional crews available should their assistance be needed if the storm impacts the EREC power system,” said EREC spokesperson Sabrina Owens. “As a Touchstone Energy cooperative, EREC is part of a vast network ready and able to assist their fellow cooperatives in time of need. Members can be assured EREC is prepared to restore power as quickly and efficiently as possible if Isaac causes damage in the EREC service area.”
Gulf Power
Hundreds of crews from Gulf Power Company’s sister companies, which include Alabama Power, Mississippi Power and Georgia Power, are at the ready to mobilize to Northwest Florida to help restore electric service should Isaac make landfall here.
In addition, almost a thousand workers from neighboring utilities also have been recruited.
“We can always count on the strength of Southern Company to bolster our power restoration efforts,” said Jeff Rogers with Gulf Power. “We’re prepared for widespread power outages if Isaac makes landfall anywhere in our service area, and it’s great to have the experienced crews from our sister companies on standby to help.”
If Isaac should make landfall further to the west and Northwest Florida has minimum impact from the storm, Gulf Power and Southern Company will assist utilities in those areas.
Gulf Power is preparing as if the looming storm will make a direct hit and asks that its customers be prepared as well. Rogers said a direct hit by a category three hurricane could mean power outages of up to two weeks for the hardest hit areas.
“We’re prepared and every Gulf Power employee has a special storm assignment which helps us restore power as quickly and safely as possible,” said Rogers. “If Isaac does indeed make landfall in Northwest Florida, we ask our customers to be prepared for widespread, lengthy outages.
The company’s preparations include making arrangements with vendors to bring in large inventories of poles, wires, transformers and other equipment; planning to set up staging sites where workers can sleep, eat, wash their clothes, refuel their trucks and have tools repaired and making sure aircraft will be available to perform damage assessments immediately after the storm.
“Should we be impacted by the storm, we thank our customers in advance for their patience as our crews work hard to restore everyone’s power,” Rogers said. “Our crews have kept sharp assisting other utilities throughout the year, so we’re ready to get out there and make a difference.”
Pensacola NAS Evacuates Aircraft, Operations Continue
August 27, 2012
In preparation for Tropical Storm Isaac, Naval Air Station Pensacola has evacuated all aircraft that could not be placed in hangars on base. Navy boats able to be placed on trailers have been moved from port operations to safe areas.
There is currently no plan to evacuate base personnel. All NASP military and civilian personnel will report to work at regular duty times on Monday, August 27th.
The National Naval Aviation Museum located aboard the base will be open for normal hours