|
Tuesday, October 6, 4 p.m. - Santa Rosa County Public Safety is closely monitoring Tropical Depression Nine for further development and its potential impact on Santa Rosa County. It is still too early to know the exact impacts, but residents can still prepare for potential tropical weather.
Key messages:
- Heavy rain could impact the local area late this week ahead of this system, with more rain over the weekend.
- The extent of the heavy rain will highly depend on the exact track.
- Heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding, especially in urban areas or where storms repeatedly move over the same locations.
- Santa Rosa County is under a slight risk for flash flooding on Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10.
- A high rip current risk is in effect for Navarre Beach through at least Saturday, October 10. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. Always swim near a lifeguard.
- Turn around, don't drown! Never cross a flooded roadway because you can't see whether the road has been damaged.
- Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to quickly move to higher ground if warnings are issued.
- Heavy rain can cause flooding of low-lying spots, underpasses, and poor drainage areas.
The county's public works department has sand available on a first-come, first-served basis at the following locations:
- The corner of Leisure Street and Citrus Drive in Navarre
- Tiger Point Park in Gulf Breeze (1370 Tiger Park Lane)
- Pace Fire-Rescue in Pace (4773 Pace Patriot Boulevard)
- The corner of Pine Forest Road and Carroll Road in Milton
Residents must provide their own sandbags and shovel. Bags can be purchased at many local hardware stores. For information on how to make and use sandbags, visit the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (www.flash.org). While sandbags can help mitigate to an extent, buying flood insurance is the best protection against flood loss.
Floods are the nation's most common and costly natural disaster and cause millions of dollars in damage every year. And get it sooner rather than later - flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.
Prepare now. Make sure all family members know the plan.
- Visit Santa Rosa County's Know Your Zone for evacuation zone information.
- Review your disaster plan and make sure it includes your pets.
- Check your disaster supply kit and replenish necessary items. Remember, be one-week ready!
- Halfway full is halfway there - residents and visitors should keep their gas tanks at least half full during hurricane season to ensure they have enough fuel to evacuate as soon as possible without worrying about long lines at gas stations and to avoid gas shortages before a storm.
- Have multiple ways of receiving alerts and monitor official sources for information.
- Clear clogged rain gutters, downspouts, and storm drains to help with the flow of water during heavy rain during hurricane season.
- Limit damage caused by high winds by removing any debris from your yard and trimming your trees, shrubs, etc.
- Every home should have a NOAA weather radio, the first line of defense before relying on alerts through a smartphone.
- Smartphone weather apps are also an excellent delivery source of severe weather information and other disaster updates - especially in the overnight hours. Santa Rosa County's alert app - AlertSantaRosa.com - provides updates on emergency incidents (hazardous materials as well as severe weather) in the county at addresses of your choice (work, school, home, etc).
- Be sure that you have not disabled your alerts on your phone and that it is fully charged and within reach. If you use the "Do Not Disturb" feature on your phone at night, turn it off so that any emergency calls may come through.
For current weather events, visit www.weather.gov/mob. For information on preparing for disasters, visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/974/Emergency-Management.
# # #
Serving our community, committed to excellence.
www.santarosa.fl.gov
|
