Dennis - official notices and info

[Kurt]

This Press Release is an important message from the Walton County Emergency Operations Center and the Public Information Office of Walton County.

Hurricane Dennis is being monitored and has the potential to make landfall in or near Walton County. The Walton County Board of County Commissioners has approved a Local State of Emergency in connection with Hurricane Dennis effective Thursday, July 7, 2005 to begin preparation for this storm. The Walton County Emergency Operations Center will be fully activate at 4 pm, Friday, July 8 to coordinate storm preparations and recovery efforts.​

The following closures have been announced:

? Walton County Head Start program will close at 1 pm, Friday, July 8. The Walton County Summer Recreation program is closed until further notice.

? Walton County public beaches will be closed at 3 pm, on Friday to remove TDC beach services and prepare for the storm.

? All county offices and facilities will close on Friday, July 08, 2005 at 1 pm and will remain closed through Monday, July 11.

A mandatory evacuation of guests in the low lying areas, including those in RV parks or mobile home parks south of Highway 20 will begin at 12 pm on Friday. A mandatory evacuation for residents living south of Highway 20 will begin at 4 pm Friday. Everyone is reminded the Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge will be closed when sustained winds reach 40 m.p.h. When the bridge is closed to traffic there will be no means of leaving south Walton County because Bay and Okaloosa counties also close their bridges to thru traffic.



Freeport High School on U.S. 331 north of Freeport will be the nearest shelter for those evacuating. The Shelter will open at 4 pm. Persons evacuating should be aware that:



? Animals are not accepted at the shelters.

? People with special needs should bring a three day supply all their medicines, water and food, including special foods. They should also bring a list of their medical conditions and contact names and numbers for doctors, home health agency serving them, and an emergency contact.

? Red Cross cots will be the only available beds.



Remember the shelter is not a hospital or a clinic and should be used by those with medical conditions that have no other evacuation options. There will be no doctor, acute care nurses, specialty care nurses or caretakers at the shelter. Those who need assistance with activities of daily living must bring a caregiver as necessary for 24 hour care, because there will not be staff available to meet those needs.



Those reporting to the shelter should bring the following items:

• ID
• Sleeping bag or bedding
• Special dietary items
• Flashlight, change of clothing, rain gear
• Infant needs, toys for children
• Personal snacks
• A good book
• Alcohol is not allowed in the shelters.

The Emergency Operations Center is responding to events as they occur in connection with this storm. Emergency calls should be made to 911, all other calls can be directed to 892-8392 or 892-8394. Residents and visitors should stay tuned to local media for current news and developments on Hurricane Dennis.

 

[Kurt]

Walton County Landfill will close at 4 pm on Friday and will not reopen until after Monday.

All garbage pickup will be suspended until after Monday as well.
​

 

[GVM]

Kurt:
Is there a time by which residents must be gone...or is it strictly a function of when winds reach 40MPH?

 

[Kurt]

Kurt:
Is there a time by which residents must be gone...or is it strictly a function of when winds reach 40MPH?

I'm sure the official line is leave ASAP, mandatory beginning at 4PM today. But the bridge won't close until the winds on the bridge reach 40 mph. Check the traffic sticky for additional evac details. Remember that bridges to the east and west will close also, leaving no escape.

It's important for people to leave ASAP, so emergency personnel have free roads and access to facilities to batten down the hatches.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I wanted everyone to see the latest Release by Walton County. This statement corrects my previous post, listing four shelters.
**********************************
NOTE: Only one Storm Shelter in Walton County.
**********************************

7/8/2005 2:50 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
This 1 page Press Release is an important message from the Walton County Emergency
Operations Center and the Public Information Office of Walton County.
The only shelter planned at this time in Walton County for Hurricane Dennis will be at the
Freeport High School. The school is located north of Freeport on Highway 331. This shelter will
open at 4 pm on Friday, July 8, 2005.
The EOC has no plans to open a shelter in south Walton.
End of release
For more information, contact: Ken Little, Public Information Officer
Sara Comander, Public Information coordinator
Walton County Emergency Operations Center
75 S. Davis Lane, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
Public Information Phone and Fax: ( 850) 892-8680 litken@co.walton.fl.us
comsara@co.walton.fl.us
EOC Phone (850) 892-8065 Fax 892-4093

 

[Kurt]

HURRICANE DENNIS NEWS RELEASE #6
Saturday, July 09, 2005 7:30 A.M.

An important message from the Walton County Emergency Operations Center and the Public Information Office of Walton County.
The Walton County Emergency Operations Center is activated to coordinate storm preparations and recovery efforts for Hurricane Dennis. Walton County is currently under a Hurricane Warning and a Flood Watch.
The following closures are in effect:
* The Walton County Head Start program and the Walton County Summer Recreation Program.
* All Walton County beaches are closed.
* All county offices and facilities are closed and will remain closed through Monday, July 11.
* The Walton County Landfill is closed though Monday and there will be no garbage pickup this weekend.

A mandatory evacuation order is now in effort for south Walton and south of Highway 20. A voluntary evacuation order has been issued for those living in low lying areas, RV parks and mobile homes for the remainder of Walton County. All persons in those areas are strongly encouraged to evacuate as soon as possible.

The Choctawhatchee Bay bridge will be closed when sustained winds reach 40 m.p.h. When the bridge is closed to traffic there will be no means of leaving south Walton County because Bay and Okaloosa counties also close their bridges to thru traffic. It is suspected that Tropical Storm Force winds will reach Walton County by 3 am on Sunday if Hurricane Dennis remains on its present projected course and speed.

Freeport High School on US 331 north of Freeport is open as a General Population and Special Needs Shelter. Persons evacuating should be aware that:
* Animals are not accepted at the shelters, except for service animals.
* People with special needs should bring a three day supply of all their medicines, water and food, including special foods. You should also bring a list of their medical conditions and contact names and numbers for doctors, home health agency serving them, and an emergency contact.

Remember the shelter is not a hospital or clinic and should be used by those with medical conditions that have no other evacuation options. There will be no doctor, acute care nurses, specialty care nurses or caretakers at the shelter. Those who need assistance with activities of daily living must bring a caregiver as necessary for 24 hour care, because there will not be staff available to meet those needs.

Those reporting to the shelter should bring the following items:
* ID
* Sleeping bag or bedding
* Special dietary items (3 day supply)
* Flashlight, change of clothing, rain gear
* Infant needs, toys for children
* Personal snacks
* A good book
* Alcohol is not allowed in the shelters.

Evacuating residents are requested to turn off electricity, water and gas to their homes if possible when leaving. In event of severe storm damage, this could alleviate further difficulties in clean up and recovery operations and aid the electric companies in restoring power.

Residents are also advised there is a shortage of gas in some areas of the county. It is strongly recommended automobiles have a full tank of gas.

Residents choosing not to evacuate should review their disaster kits, stock up on non perishable food items, water, ice and cash, battery operated radio and extra batteries, non electric can opener and a first aid kit. You need to be prepared to be self-sustaining for 3 to 5 days. Those who choose to remain are advised at a certain point before the main storm hits land, emergency response personnel will be unable to assist them.

Citizens may call the Emergency Operations Center Information lines at 892-8392 or 892-8394. Emergency calls should be made to 911. Residents should stay tuned to local media for current news and developments on Hurricane Dennis. Information is being posed to the Walton County web site at www.co.walton.fl.us.

 

[dusty]

When they say the beaches are closed, what happens if someone walks on the beach? Do they issue tickets? Or is it a "at your own risk" kind of thing?

 

[Smiling JOe]

When they say the beaches are closed, what happens if someone walks on the beach? Do they issue tickets? Or is it a "at your own risk" kind of thing?

When the beaches are closed, the Sheriff's Deputies can write tickets, but right now, they have better things to do, which I doubt would include hanging out at Hwy 98/283 and Hwy 98/395.

 

[Kurt]

HURRICANE DENNIS NEWS RELEASE #7

This Press Release is an important message from the Walton County Emergency Operations Center and the Public Information Office of Walton County.

Update from the EOC:
* The Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast is closed. The Destin Urgent Care Center on Highway 98 will close at 7 pm on Saturday. Healthmark Regional Medical Center located on Highway 331 in DeFuniak Springs will remain open.
* A general population refuge will open at Okaloosa Walton College, Building Two (2) on Highway 90 in DeFuniak Springs at noon on Saturday, July 09, 2005. This is not a certified hurricane shelter and is not manned by the Red Cross.
* Court hearings and trials scheduled for Monday, July 11th in the First Judicial Circuit, which includes Walton County, have been postponed until further notice.
* Walton County Animal Control will cease picking up animals at 4 pm on Saturday.
* Alcoholic beverages and liquor sales in Walton County will be suspended at 10 pm on Saturday.
* All non-emergency operations will cease when the winds reach 35 m.p.h. and all emergency operations, including fire, EMS and animal control will be suspended when the winds reach 45 m.p.h.
The Emergency Operations Center is responding to inquiries from citizens at 892-8392 or 892-8304. Emergency calls should be made to 911. Residents should stay tuned to local media or current news and developments on Hurricane Dennis. Information is also being posted to the Walton County web site at www.co.walton.fl.us.

 

[Smiling JOe]

HURRICANE DENNIS NEWS RELEASE #7

* Alcoholic beverages and liquor sales in Walton County will be suspended at 10 pm on Saturday.

More importantly, when will the suspension of such sales of be lifted?

Since the Hospital is closed, if you need immediate emergency care, I have a tad bit of training, bottle of vodka, and some bandage wraps.