09/27/2022
Hello, Friends —
Hurricane Ian continues to move towards the eastern Gulf of Mexico and is expected to develop into a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall in Florida this week. Over the weekend, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for all of Florida and activated 2,500 members of the Florida National Guard.
We expect heavy rain, strong winds, flash floods, and storm surges in Northwest Florida regardless of where Ian makes landfall. While conditions may change in the meantime, one thing remains: be prepared for storm surges in Northwest Florida.
Hurricane Preparedness Resources Websites
Florida Disaster Emergency Information
Florida Department of Transportation
Federal Emergency Management Agency
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Ready.gov
Hurricanes.gov
FEMA: Visit FEMA for up-to-date information, support, services, and to apply for disaster assistance following a storm.
SBA: Visit SBA to learn about low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from a major disaster
FloridaDisaster.org: Visit FloridaDisaster.org for resources and information on creating a personalized emergency plan for your family.
HUD: Visit HUD to learn about housing assistance available to homeowners and renters
National Hurricane Center: Visit NHC for the latest updates on tropical weather threats.
PREPARING FOR HURRICANE IAN
As we continue to actively track the path of Hurricane Ian, here are some tips to safely prepare for its potential impact:
Prepare a kit. Ensure you and your family have a disaster kit ready to go in case of an emergency. For more information on items to include in a kit, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes for preparedness tips.
Get to know your surroundings. Know the elevation of your house and property. Hurricanes often bring storm surge, which is considered the greatest threat to property and life during any tropical storm. Know your communities’ evacuation routes and how you would evacuate to higher ground. For more information on potential storm surge areas visit NOAA’s storm surge site.
Consistently check the weather. The Coast Guard's mobile app for boating safety is a tool to check marine weather from your phone. With the mobile app, you can check the weather at nearby NOAA buoys, which provide wind speed and direction along with wave height. Checking weather any time you plan to get underway and throughout your time on the water is highly recommended.
Secure your boats. Review your hurricane plan with your local marina, ensure you have a plan to both bring your boat in and strap it down ashore or ensure it is properly equipped to ride out the storm at the marina.
Listen to local officials. When it comes to hurricane response and preparedness, the most important link in the chain is you: prepare your boat for the season, have a hurricane mooring plan, and monitor channel 16 on your VHF radio when on the water. Prior to planning a trip, keep an eye on the weather, port conditions, and other hurricane warnings.
For further questions, please consult the Emergency Management Websites for the county you reside in:
Santa Rosa County
Okaloosa County
Walton County
Escambia County
RESOURCES AND CONTACT INFORMATION
The following are websites and contact information for various federal and state agencies:
Florida Disaster Emergency Information
Florida Department of Transportation
Federal Emergency Management Agency
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Ready.gov
Hurricanes.gov
Escambia County:
County Website
Escambia County Zone Map
Facebook: Escambia County Emergency Management
Twitter:
Holmes County:
County Website
Holmes County Emergency Management
Facebook: Holmes County Emergency Management
Twitter:
Okaloosa County:
County Website
Okaloosa County Emergency Management
Okaloosa Evacuation Route
Okaloosa County Public Safety
Facebook: Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
Twitter:
Santa Rosa County:
County Website
Santa Rosa Evacuation Zones
Facebook: SRC Emergency Management
Twitter:
Walton County:
Walton County Emergency Management Map
County Website
Walton County Emergency Management
Facebook: Walton County Emergency Management
Twitter:
Traffic and road information:
FDOT.gov
