Storm Watch:

Mayor D.C. Reeves Shares Updates on City Preparations

Tropical Storm Isaias is strengthening as it moves northeast and is forecast to make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast as a hurricane early Saturday morning, Oct. 10. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Escambia County. Local impacts could include high winds and surf, storm surge, rip currents, flash flooding and tornadoes.

• Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 25 Florida counties, including Escambia.

At his Wednesday press conference, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves focused on what the city is doing now. His message to residents was to treat this as a direct hit.

“Prepare as if the storm is coming here and will have intensity, and we can all be gleefully wrong if that is the case.”

Construction Sites Are the City’s First Target

City projects. Reeves said the city contacted contractors at active job sites, including the Palafox corridor and cross streets, the Pensacola airport runway work, the port’s road and rail project and the Fricker Center. Equipment and materials are to be tied down, shored up or moved off site.

Private sites: City inspections and engineering staff were visiting residential and commercial construction sites as the mayor spoke. The city also sent a blast email to everyone with an active permit telling them to tie down their sites. The city does not manage those projects, Reeves said, but loose materials could hurt neighbors and public infrastructure.

Flooding and Stormwater

The ground is already saturated. Reeves said the city got 8.2 inches of rain this past weekend. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting six to eight more inches for the area.

• Public works and outside vendors have worked more than 24 hours to clean out, clear and lower stormwater systems.
• Low-lying spots the city is watching include the Main Street area near E and F streets and the Graffiti Bridge area. Police and public works are ready to close them if needed.
• Reeves said FDOT drainage along I-110, a historic trouble spot, is on his list for today’s EOC meeting.
• Police and fire can staff up, help open shelters and close bridges if directed.

Debris pickup: Garbage and yard debris collection stays on schedule this week. Crews will make extra passes Thursday and Friday to pick up yard waste that could become projectiles. Reeves does not expect much, given the recent rain.

After the storm: Reeves said the first priorities after the wind subsides are damage assessment and clearing critical roadways to hospitals and emergency services. A downed tree in a park would wait behind a blocked critical route.

Boats, Flights, Schools and Events

• Boat ramps: The city is opening the fence and gates at the 17th Avenue and Wayside boat ramp by Graffiti Bridge so owners can pull boats. Reeves said construction prep there, including tearing up the parking lot, was set to start this week and was stopped. Bayview Park’s launch is also open, along with a third bayou launch. Many marinas have told owners to get boats out.
• Flights: Decisions belong to the airlines. Check flypensacola.com or your carrier’s site. An official airport closure will come closer to tropical storm force winds. Anyone flying Friday morning or evening should monitor closely.
• Schools: Reeves had no word on closures. Football games were moved from Friday to Thursday. He expected more clarity after the 11:30 a.m. EOC meeting, with Friday the day in question.
• City programs: Friday after-school programs may be disrupted. Friday and Saturday community center rentals are canceled, with refunds or rescheduling offered.
• Sports: No official word yet on the Florida State baseball game or the Bay Center basketball game. Reeves said the teams, the Wahoos and the Bay Center will decide.
• Phones: Asked about cell charging stations, Reeves said the city has talked to AT&T, mostly about staging resources nearby. He said charging will be part of that conversation.

Who Is in Charge

Reeves said the county’s Emergency Operations Center is “in the first seat” so the city and county do not issue conflicting guidance. The city has seven to nine seats in the EOC, he said, and he was there Tuesday at 11:30 and planned to return Wednesday. The next scheduled update is at 4 p.m., and Reeves said the frequency will increase as landfall nears.

• Sen. Rick Scott is expected in Pensacola Thursday afternoon for hurricane preparedness. Times had not been released.

EOC Update

The Escambia County Emergency Operations Center is activating to a Level 2 beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 and a Level 1 beginning at 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9.

• Both the Level 2 and Level 1 activation will include Emergency Support Functions related to this type of incident for response and recovery. The EOC operational period will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8 and 24 hours a day beginning at 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9.
• Emergency Management will also partially staff the EOC overnight Thursday, Oct. 8 to continue monitoring the storm.

Stay tuned to myescambia.com, myescambia.com/beready, and the Escambia County Emergency Management Facebook page for updates on Tropical Storm Isaias.