City of Pensacola
The City of Pensacola estimates debris removal costs as of Oct. 19 at $16 million and climbing. Debris hauler D&J estimated that they have collected 1 million cubic yards of debris in the city so far. For perspective, a million cubic yards is an entire football field with debris stacked more than 500 feet high – or about a 50-story building.
The first pass of debris collection is expected to take 4-5 weeks and the pace of that collection will vary based on the situation on site. There will be at least two passes through the City.
DEBRIS REMOVAL: As of Oct. 19, we have:
- Collected 3,236 loads of vegetative debris.
- Collected 1,065,463 cubic yards of vegetative debris.
- Track the progress here.
Separate your vegetative debris (tree limbs and leaves) from construction and demolition (building materials, fencing, carpet, furniture, and plumbing materials).
Once collected, the debris will be temporarily stored at Roger Scott and Goya Drive.
Teams from Public Works, Sanitation, and 311, along with the debris-monitoring team, will continue coordinating resident reports, conducting field verifications and monitoring contractor operations as this cleanup process moves forward.
SANITATION: Collections continue this week; recycling operations will resume Oct. 26. This week, we will pick up your recycling can, but the contents will not be recycled. Crews will work on Wednesday (their usual day off) as a makeup day for missed pickups. If you were missed, submit a 311 ticket, but remember that our crews work until dark. The October Mayor’s Neighborhood Cleanup has been rescheduled to Nov. 21.
All Pensacola Energy and Sanitation bills have been extended to Nov. 2.
PARKS AND RECREATION: We have reopened 14 parks and play spaces:
- Aviation Discovery Park.
- Blake Doyle Skatepark.
- Chappie James Museum (Park Grounds).
- Community Maritime Park.
- Ferdinand Plaza.
- Kiwanis Park.
- Legion Field.
- Magee Field.
- Osceola Golf Course: Range and front 9 holes open. Holes 10-18 open date TBD.
- Plaza Ferdinand.
- Roger Scott Tennis Center: Hard courts are open only. Clay courts remain closed.
- Seville Square.
- Veterans Memorial Park.
- Vickrey Center Playground Area.
Storm debris has been cleared from park areas in these parks and consolidated along rights-of-way for contractor pickup, but additional repairs to fencing, lighting, and amenities are needed. Please use caution.
Bayview Park, Exchange Park, and Hitzman Park still are being assessed.
The weeks of Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, Parks crews will reassess smaller neighborhood parks.
Passive Neighborhood Parks (with no amenities) assessment will start week of Nov. 9.
YOUTH SPORTS: Bill Bond will relocate from Roger Scott to Raymond Riddles Athletic Park on North W Street. NEP football will practice at the Brent Raiders field. They will play home games at away locations.
COMMUNITY CENTERS: Only Gull Point and East Pensacola Heights remain closed. Out of School Time program at Gull Point relocated to Cobb and Woodland Heights with parents providing transportation from Gull Point to Cobb or Woodland. Dance classes moved to Bayview Senior Center in the evenings.
Bayview Senior Center is open as a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday. The MARC provides residents with a central location to access storm-related resources and assistance to support hurricane recovery. While there, residents can request help with securing food, water, housing, recovery services and more. NOTE: MARC sites are intended to provide information and assistance. They are not food or supply distribution sites. Escambia County Area Transit will provide free transportation assistance to the MARC locations. For transportation help, call 850-471-6657 Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and reference MARC.
SENIOR MEAL DISTRIBUTION SITES: Senior meal distribution is facilitated by the Council on Aging of West Florida and the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, subject to pre-order availability. Distribution is continuing at Cobb, Bayview, and Gull Point (parking lot only) for pre-registered participants.
PERMITTED EVENTS: Scheduled events and markets are expected to resume the weekend of Oct. 23.
NEED HELP WITH ISAIAS CLEANUP?
If you need help with storm-related repairs, contact, Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) CRISIS CLEANUP HOTLINE at 1-800-451-1954. Crisis Cleanup is helping connect residents with volunteer disaster relief organizations that may be able to assist with roof tarping, fallen tree removal, storm debris cleanup, and other storm-related cleanup needs.
Emergency RV
Yesterday, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference at The Salvation Army Multi-Agency Resource Center in Pensacola. His announcements included awarding the first two temporary shelter trailers to storm-impacted families and providing one-time financial assistance to eight first responders in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties who were personally affected by the storm.
- “Thanks to our partnership with Emergency RV, we have started providing travel trailers to Floridians displaced by significant hurricane damage, so they have a safe place to live while they rebuild,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We’re also committed to helping the first responders whose homes were impacted by the storm and still showed up to serve their communities. With funding from the Florida Sheriffs Association, we are providing these first responders with $5,000 each to show our gratitude.”
Through a partnership between Emergency RV and the Florida Division of Emergency Management, temporary shelter trailers are being provided to eligible residents displaced by significant damage from Hurricane Isaias. Emergency RV is a nonprofit organization that provides temporary shelter to individuals and families affected by disasters. The program has received nearly 300 applications. Residents can apply at EmergencyRV.org.
Emergency Bridge Loans
In Destin, Gov. DeSantis announced more than $4.5 million has been approved through the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program for small businesses impacted by Hurricane Isaias. Sixty-five businesses have been approved to receive these funds to bridge the gap while they await other long-term funding such as insurance, with more applications being approved every day. The program, administered by FloridaCommerce, provides short-term, no-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Isaias. Interested applicants can apply now through November 25, 2026, or until all available funds are exhausted, at FloridaJobs.org/DisasterRecovery/EBL.
“As the Panhandle recovers from Hurricane Isaias, we are helping businesses reopen safely and getting Floridians back to work,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
City of Milton Extends Local State of Emergency Through October 21
Mayor Heather Lindsay signed Resolution No. 2026-23 on Sunday, October 18, extending the local state of emergency originally declared on October 8, 2026.
The extension allows the City to continue exercising emergency powers necessary to protect public health, safety and welfare. These powers include expediting emergency contracts, securing equipment and supplies, utilizing personnel and volunteers, coordinating public works and allocating resources to support ongoing emergency response and recovery operations.
Under the resolution, the City Manager or designee is authorized to exercise emergency powers consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and applicable Florida law to address storm-related threats and protect residents, visitors and property.
The extension does not, by itself, impose new restrictions on residents or issue additional evacuation orders.
The City of Milton remains committed to protecting public safety, restoring essential services and supporting residents impacted by Hurricane Isaias. City officials will continue coordinating with Santa Rosa County, the Florida Department of Transportation and other response agencies as recovery efforts progress.
The local state of emergency will remain in effect through October 21, 2026, unless further extended or terminated.
Hot Meals – Gulf Breeze
Forged By Fire, a Louisiana nonprofit that runs mobile kitchens into hurricane and flood zones, has loaded its kitchen trailers in Louisiana, drove over, and served free hot lunches.
This Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct 20 and 21, they’re cooking in Gulf Breeze:
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
4257 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
11:30 a.m. until the food runs out
It’s hot Louisiana food, free for anyone who needs a meal after the storm. We’re also handing out food boxes with four to five days of shelf-stable food. Nothing is for sale.
Schedule and updates: weservehope.org
ECAT Service Update for Tuesday, Oct. 20
Escambia County Area Transit will operate regular bus service Tuesday, Oct. 20. All bus routes will resume normal schedules.
Due to debris conditions on several roads, delays are possible. Please allow additional time when planning your trip. The public’s patience is appreciated during this time.
For additional assistance, please contact Escambia County Area Transit at 850-595-3228.
