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Winter weather update #5 - 01/23/2025

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Winter weather update #5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Updates are highlighted below.
 
 
 
Thursday, Jan. 23, 1:45 p.m.
 
Roads
  • Public Works crews are out working the areas of roadways that are shady and not melting. Drivers are asked to be patient as public works will be working in the roadways.
  • Quintette Road and Berryhill Road are areas of concern that public works is currently working, drivers are asked to avoid these roads until late afternoon.
  • Munson Highway north of Highway 4 is still seeing icy conditions and will continue to be an area of concern through Friday, Jan. 24. 
  • An update with areas of concern overnight will be sent later today. Public works believes all county roads will be passable by this evening with some potential black ice patches forming later tonight.
  • Report road issues at www.santarosa.fl.gov/FormCenter/Public-Works-7/Citizen-Work-Request-48.
  • Any road closures can be viewed at www.santarosa.fl.gov/293/Current-Road-Bridge-Closures.
 
County Offices
  • County offices and facilities, including animal services, veterans services, extension services and all county libraries will resume normal operating hours on Friday, Jan. 24.
  • The Central Landfill will resume normal operations (7 a.m. - 5 p.m.) on Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25 for both the public and commercial haulers. Jay Transfer Station will resume normal operating hours on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Visitors to both locations are urged to use caution when entering and leaving the facilities as well as while they move within the facilities.
  • The Regular Commission meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23 is rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 3 at 8:30 a.m.
  • The BOCC Special Rezoning meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23 has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 6 at 5 p.m.
  • Emergency Management will return to a Level 3 (monitoring) tonight, Thursday, Jan. 23.
  • Santa Rosa County Emergency Management has declared a Local State of Emergency, view online here.
  • Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a State of Emergency with Executive Order 25-13 (Emergency Management - Gulf Winter Weather System), view online here.
 
Other office closures/openings
  • The Santa Rosa County Tax Collector will remain closed on Friday, Jan. 24.
  • The Navarre Beach Pier will be open on Friday, Jan. 24.
  • The following offices will be open on Friday, Jan. 24:
  • Santa Rosa County Clerk of Courts
  • Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser
  • Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections
 
Early Voting
  • Early Voting will resume and both early voting locations will be open on Friday, Jan. 24. Early voting hours will be extended from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, and Saturday, Jan. 25
 
There are two sites for Early Voting in Santa Rosa County: 
  • Main Supervisor of Elections Office in Milton; 6495 Caroline St. Ste F, Milton FL 32570 
  • South Santa Rosa Service Center (Annex) in Gulf Breeze; 5841 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze, FL 32570 
 
Please visit www.votesantarosa.gov or call 850-983-1900 if you have any questions. 
 
I-10 Update
Information provided by the Florida Department of Transportation:
  • Effective at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, a portion of WESTBOUND Interstate 10 (I-10) will reopen to traffic from Mile Marker 70 (State Road 285) to the Alabama/Florida State Line.
  • To reiterate, this is for westbound only. Additional sections of I-10 are anticipated to open later today. In the meantime, for the sections of I-10 still closed, please seek alternative routes until further notice.
  • As our crews continue to work around the clock, FDOT reminds travelers to drive with caution as winter weather and icy conditions are still present and while we work with law enforcement to re-open the entire corridor.
 
Santa Rosa County District Schools
  • School and after-school activities for Friday, Jan. 24 have been cancelled.
  • Updates can be found on the school district website at www.santarosaschools.org/en-US.
 
Bridges
  • Florida Highway Patrol and local law enforcement close bridges if conditions deteriorate and it’s hazardous for motorists. Not all bridges will close or close at the same time. Updates will be sent if any bridges are closed
  • State road and bridge closures may be monitored at FL511.com. This includes, but is not limited to, the following bridges in Santa Rosa County: Hwy. 90 over Simpson River/Escambia Bay and over Blackwater River, Hwy. 87 south over Yellow River, the interstate bridges and Garcon Point Bridge.
 
Shelters
  • The cold weather shelter for the homeless and/or heatless at Ferris Hill Baptist Church, 6848 Chaffin St. in Milton, will be open 24 hours from Thursday, Jan. 23 until 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26.
  • No one will be admitted after 8:30 p.m. each night unless brought in by law enforcement. Only service animals (with verification of rabies vaccination) are permitted to stay with guests. 
  • Volunteers are still needed for Saturday, Jan. 25 and Sunday, Jan. 26. Shifts are in two-hour increments and there will always be at least two volunteers present at all times. To see available shifts and to sign up to volunteer, visit https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0F44A5AC2DA1FDC16-54474634-cold.
 
Weather update from the National Weather Service in Mobile:
  • A cold weather advisory is in effect from 11 p.m. this evening to 7 a.m. on Friday. Very cold wind chills as low as 20 are expected. Very cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.
  • Lows on Thursday night are expected to drop into the low 20s in northern areas of Santa Rosa County and upper 20s to low 30s closer to the coast.
 
5 P's of Cold Weather Safety:
  • Protect People: Remember to dress in layers and wear a hat and gloves. It is important to try to stay out of the wind and to stay dry. Also, remember to check on young children and elderly family and neighbors who are the most sensitive to cold weather. If the temperature cannot be maintained at a home, make temporary arrangements to stay elsewhere, including with friends and family.
  • Protect Pets: If cold weather is in the forecast, be sure to bring outdoor pets inside or give them a warm shelter to stay in.
  • Protect Exposed Pipes: Cover pipes and outdoor faucets. On occasion, outdoor faucets may need to be allowed to slowly drip to prevent freezing and breaking.
  • Protect Plants: Cover cold-sensitive plants to protect them from dangerous temperatures or bring potted plants inside.
  • Practice Fire Safety: Use safe heating sources indoors. Do not use fuel-burning devices such as grills; they release carbon monoxide, which is a deadly gas. Also, make sure to use space heaters according to their instructions and be attentive to open flames.
 
For current weather events, visit www.weather.gov/mob. For information on preparing for disasters, visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency. Follow Santa Rosa County Emergency Management on Facebook for weather updates.
 
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Best places to shelter from tornadoes - away from windows in an interior room away from windows on the lowest floor.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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