Fri., Aug. 27, 1 p.m. – Santa Rosa County Emergency Management officials are currently monitoring Hurricane Ida. Hurricane Ida is forecast to continue strengthening as it moves northwest into the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. Ida is forecast to make landfall along the southeast or south central Louisiana coast by Sunday night according to the US National Weather Service in Mobile.
No major local impacts are expected although there is a potential for heavy rain and flooding through Tuesday. There is also a high risk for rip currents today into early next week. Coastal Santa Rosa County will be under a high surf warning beginning at 1 a.m. Sun., Aug. 29 until 6 p.m. Mon., Aug. 30 and a coastal flood advisory will be in effect from 7 p.m. Sat., Aug. 28 until 7 p.m. Mon., Aug. 30. Residents are encouraged to monitor local weather reports throughout the weekend for any changes in Ida’s track.
In anticipation of heavy rain, the county’s public works department has sand available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the following locations:
- The corner of Leisure St. and Citrus Dr. in Navarre
- Tiger Point Park in Gulf Breeze
- Pace Fire-Rescue in Pace
- The corner of Pine Forest Rd. and Carroll Rd. 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. 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.
What residents can do now:
- Visit Santa Rosa County’s Know Your Zone for evacuation zone information. Santa Rosa County recently updated the evacuation zone map as part of a statewide evacuation zone study through Florida Department of Emergency Management.
- Sign up for emergency alerts at www.AlertSantaRosa.com.
- Review your disaster plan and make sure it includes your pets.
- Check your disaster supply kit and replenish necessary items.
