Severe Weather Update #1

Wed., April 10, 1 p.m. - Updates are highlighted below

Weather update from National Weather Service in Mobile:

• Severe weatherconditions are forecasted for Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night for our area, generally between 2 p.m. - 1 a.m. Santa Rosa County has been placed under an enhanced riskfor severe weather.
• Destructive wind gusts up to 80 mph, tornadoes (some of which could be strong, EF2+) and quarter-sized hail are all possible.
• A wind advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. this morning to 1 a.m. tonight. Southeast winds 20-30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph are expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
• A flood watch is in effect until 1 a.m. Widespread rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches, with locally higher amounts over six inches possible.Flash flooding is possible - do not attempt to cross flooded roads.
• Coastal and marine impacts include high surf and high risk of rip currents. A high surf warning is in effect until Thursday night. High surf will build as high as 7-9 feet late Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning.
• A gale warning will be in effect beginning at 4 p.m. on Wednesday through 1 p.m. Thursday for bays and sounds. For Gulf waters out 60 nautical miles, the gale warning will be in effect from 4 p.m. Wednesday to 7 p.m. on Thursday. Southerly to southwesterly winds will increase to 20 to 30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots and seas building to 7-12 feet. Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions.

County Offices

• County offices will remain open for normal business hours today, Wed., April 10. This includes the property appraiser, supervisor of elections and tax collector offices.
• Clerk of Courts offices closed at 1 p.m. today, April 10.
• Emergency Management has activated to a Level 2 Modified (emergency management staff only) for this severe weather threat.

Navarre Beach Pier

• The Navarre Beach Pier will close at 4 p.m. today, April 10 and is expected to open for normal operating hours on Thur., April 11.

Santa Rosa County Courthouse

• The Santa Rosa County Courthouse (including Clerk of Courts staff) closed at 1 p.m. today, April 10.

Santa Rosa County District Schools

• Santa Rosa School District will follow an early release schedule for Wednesday, April 10.
• Out of an abundance of caution, Santa Rosa students will have an early release day on Wednesday, April 10. Community Schools Latchkey/After-School Programs and all extracurricular activities, to include practices, games, and events, have been canceled for tomorrow evening. Be sure that you have multiple ways to receive information.
• It is anticipated that schools will be in session on Thursday, April 11, 2024.
• Families are encouraged to stay connected through local media outlets, county emergency management, district social media, and SchoolStatus Connect for additional information.
• Find 2023-2024 Start, Dismissal and Early Release Times online here.

Sand

• 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.

Roads

Bridges

• Florida Highway Patrol and local law enforcement close bridges when sustained winds are greater than 39 mph. Not all bridges will close or close at the same time. Updates will be sent if any bridges are closed.

Shelters

• There are no public shelters open. Residents who do not feel safe in their homes are encouraged to stay with family, friends or neighbors who live in a well-built, site-built structure.

Prepare now for severe weather. Make sure all family members know the plan.

• Have multiple ways of receiving alerts.
• Clean up any items in your yard that may become projectiles due to high winds. This includes patio furniture, decorations and plants.
• 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.
• Have a kit with supplies ready to go when a tornado warning is issued. The best place to shelter during a tornado warning is on the lowest floor of a well-built, site-built structure away from windows and doors. Move to a small, interior/inside room. Put as many walls as you can between you and the outside. Suggested items to include in your tornado kit are:
• A bike helmet or some form of head protection for each family member. Don't forget to put on shoes!
• A flashlight or electric lantern.
• Charged cell phone power bank.
• A whistle or air horn in the event you are trapped under debris.
• First aid kit.
• Know where you will go (interior rooms, basement - never a car or mobile home) if a tornado warning is issued and don't forget your pets!

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 Facebookfor weather updates.

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