10/08/2018
If you haven't been bugged to death about the storm yet. Here is information from the Board of County Commissioners.
Public Information Officer Christopher Saul, Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners AGENCY
HURRICANE ALERT - Okaloosa County Prepares for Hurricane Michael
Okaloosa County Staff and Officials are preparing for Hurricane Michael’s approach. Currently, Okaloosa County is at a level two activation for our Emergency Operations Center (EOC). This means staff have come in to prepare for the adverse effects of tropical weather on our area.
The County Commission will hold an emergency meeting at the EOC on the campus of Northwest Florida State College at 1pm on October 8th. They will consider evacuations in the area.
The County Public Works Department has begun to provide bags and sand for all who wish to take advantage of those services. The county public works yards where you can pick up these items are located at 1759 S Ferdon Blvd, Crestview, FL 32536 and on Hollywood Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach.
In addition – City of Destin Public Works will give away sand bags and sand at their maintenance department on Commons Drive in Destin.
The storm expected to be Hurricane Michael currently sustains winds of 70 miles per hour and continues on a northward path at a rate of seven miles per hour. County officials expect the storm to make landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast as either a stronger category two or weaker category three storm Wednesday. The storm could have 111 mile per hour winds to 129 mile per hour winds.
Shelters in the county have been placed on standby for this storm and will be activated on command of the Board of County Commissioners. The primary shelter will be Davidson Middle School in Crestview, followed by Raider Arena on the Northwest Florida State College Campus. The Commission designated Shoal River Middle School as the tertiary shelter, should it be needed.
Two swift-water rescue teams have been activated. One will work in the north side and another will work south of Eglin AFB.
The Florida Department of Transportation will close all of the bridges once sustained winds exceed 39 miles per hour. They will do this without warning. The County is asking people who must use bridges to evacuate and wish to do so to evacuate as soon as possible. The governor has lifted tolls for bridges in advance of this storm.
Okaloosa County’s jail stands ready to withstand the affects of the storm. The jail has four days of food on hand to supply the inmates and will be able to serve food with or without power. The generators for the jail are fueled and ready to provide power as well.
As of Monday evening all public parks and beach accesses will be closed.