NorthEscambia.com: Our Snow Photos Part I
February 12, 2010
NorthEscambia.com was busy Friday taking lots of photos from North Escambia to Monroe County, Alabama.
Most of the photos you will see in our first photo gallery were taken in and around Atmore, which received significantly more snow than North Escambia.
For the photo gallery, click here.
Don’t forget to email your snow pictures to news@northescambia.com so we can add them to our photo galleries.
Pictured above: Bethel UMC on Highway 21 near I-65. Pictured below: The Atmore train station. Pictured inset: Welcome To Florida. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: NorthEscambia.com Reader Submitted Photos
February 12, 2010
For a NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photo gallery from Friday morning’s snow, click here.
Don’t forget to email your snow pictures to news@northescambia.com so that we can run add your photos to our galleries.
Pictured top: A snowman in Nokomis, Fla. Pictured left: “Redneck Snowman” in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Closings, Cancellations
February 12, 2010
(Updated 10:00 a.m.) Here is our latest list of closures, cancellations and schedule changes due to our winter weather:
Newest items are in bold.
- First National Bank & Trust, Atmore, closing at noon. Plans to be open Saturday drive-thru 8-noon
- Gulf Winds Credit Union in Atmore & Brewton. Pensacola, Milton and Gulf Breeze are open. Atmore plans to reopen Saturday, weather permitting.
- Bratt-Davisville Water System until Monday
- All public and private schools in Escambia counties Alabama and Florida, Santa Rosa County, Baldwin County. Make up day for Escambia, Ala., will be Monday. Make up day for Santa Rosa will be June 10. Other make up days have not been announced.
- All Escambia County offices, including courts, elections, courts, sheriff’s administration, property appraiser. Property appraiser will be open 9 a.m. – noon Saturday to file homestead exemptions.
- Escambia County public libraries. No fines for materials due.
- Council of Aging of West Florida — including Century, Cantonment and other meal sites
- University of West Florida
- Pensacola Junior College
- Whiting Field, except for essential personnel
- Pensacola Naval Air Station
- Child Discovery Center of the First Presbyterian Church
- All Santa Rosa County offices
- All Escambia County, Ala. offices
- Pensacola Christian Academy
- All Alabama state offices
- Faulkner State, Bay Minette, closed
- Escambia County Headstart
Currently reported open:
- Century Pharmacy, regular hours
- United Bank — normal hours anticipated at all locations until noon, depending on conditions.
If you have a closure or cancellation to report, you can email that information to news@northescambia.com or use our contact form. Cancellation notices must include a name and phone number for verification. We won’t publish the name or phone number unless you ask us to do so, but do need the information if we have any questions.
Winter Storm Warning: Lots Of Snow For Some
February 12, 2010
(2 p.m. update) A Winter Storm Warning is still in effect for Escambia County, Alabama. A Winter Storm Advisory is in effect for Escambia County, Florida.
For the latest local conditions, click here.
More snow is possible — an inch or two in some parts of North Escambia and a total up to seven inches in Escambia, Alabama.NorthEscambia.com will continue to monitor this changing weather situation and bring you the very latest information. Check back often today for the latest updates.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- This Afternoon: A 40 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 35. North wind around 10 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
- Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 24. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of rain after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Rain likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. South wind around 10 mph becoming northwest. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Presidents’ Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. North wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 51. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 59.
How To Drive On Slippery Roads
February 12, 2010
Here are tips for driving on slippery roads from Santa Rosa County Emergency Management.
The best tip — is stay home. But if you must drive:
- Drive according to the conditions on the road. Remember bridges, overpasses and infrequently travel roads will freeze first.
- Allow extra time to get to your destination.
- Don’t use cruise control on icy roads.
- Reduce your speed and leave plenty of room to stop. There should be at least three times the normal amount of space between you and the car in front of you.
- To avoid skidding break gently if your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
- Put extra distance between you and the car in front of you.
- If your car starts to slide, turn your wheels in the direction it is sliding to straighten it out.
- Turn on your lights to see and be seen.
- Clear snow and ice off the headlights, tail lights, mirrors and license plates.
- Stop the car when necessary to keep the windows clear.
- Check the windshield wipers to make sure they are not frozen to the windshield.
- Slow down. Wear seat belts. Never drink and drive.
Where’s The Snow? Snowing In Atmore! Flakes In Walnut Hill
February 12, 2010
(Updated 7:30)At 7:30 this morning, large flakes were reported
There have been a few large flakes mixed with rain in Atmore at 7:20.
Don’t give up just yet. That’s the word from the weather service. The snow line is slowly moving toward the southeast. Best guess? Probably some snow in the Atmore area by 8-9 a.m. and the line moving south through North Escambia shortly thereafter.
On WKRG TV 5 this morning, the reporter was doing a live shot from Citronelle, and it was raining about 5:45 a.m. By 6:15, he was making snowballs with snow accumulating on the grass and asphalt. So the weather can change that quickly.
Stay tuned, and don’t forget to email us your snow pictures later this morning.
–William
Comments on this story are closed; please make your snow comments on the story here.
Take Snow Pictures? Have A Closure To Report? Email Us
February 12, 2010
If it does snow tonight and Friday as forecast, send us your photos! We would love to post them for all to see here on NorthEscambia.com.
Just email your photos as an attachment to news@northescambia.com.
If you have a closure or cancellation to report, you can email that information to news@northescambia.com or use our contact form. Cancellation notices must include a name and phone number for verification. We won’t publish the name or phone number unless you ask us to do so, but do need the information if we have any questions.
County Offers Winter Weather Fire Safety Tips
February 12, 2010
With our winter weather, Escambia County urges residents to take safety precautions while trying to stay warm, specifically when using space heaters. Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the winter months, and trails only cooking equipment in home fires year-round.
According to the National Fire Protection Association annual fire department survey, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 64,100 reported home structure fires in the United States in 2006. These fires accounted for 16% of all home fires and were responsible for an estimated 540 deaths, roughly 1,400 injuries and $943 million in direct property damage. With this in mind, Escambia County would like to offer a few safety tips involving heating equipment:
- Properly inspect all heating equipment for frayed cords or exposed elements before use.
- Space heaters need space. Keep heaters at least three feet away from all furniture, drapes, clothing and other combustibles.
- Use only heaters designed for use in the home. Never use cooking appliances, such as ovens, or any heaters designed for outdoor usage indoors.
- Only use heaters with safety features such as cut-off switches that turn them off if they accidentally tip over and those units with heater element guards that prevent combustible materials from contacting the heating element.
- Never leave space heaters unattended. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to bed.
- Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
- Keep heaters and their cords along with extension cords away from high traffic areas.
- When buying a new space heater, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory.
- Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside every bedroom. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.
- If you have gas appliances, install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.
Alternative Heating Fire Safety Life-Saving Tips
- Allow your heater to cool before refueling and only refuel outdoors.
- Fill your heater with only crystal clear, K-1 kerosene, not gasoline or camp stove fuel as both explode easily.
- Keep the fire in the fireplace with a screen large enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs.
- Carefully follow manufacturers’ installation and maintenance instructions.
- Remember it’s always safer to add more blankets on your bed than to use a space heater while sleeping.
- Electric blankets can be a serious fire hazard if defected or used improperly. Check your electric blanket for any damage from fraying, creasing or general wear and tear. Electric blankets that are more than 10 years old should be replaced, and never use a wet blanket.
- In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and crawl to an exit using your escape plan.
Actions should be taken to prepare for this and future cold weather events. Remember the “5 Ps” of cold weather preparedness:
- Protect People
- Protect Plants
- Protect Pets
- Protect Exposed Pipes
- Practice Fire Safety
Escambia County encourages everyone to follow these safety tips. For more information on cold weather hazards click here. If you have additional questions regarding heater safety or other fire safety issues, please contact Lt. Daniel Akerman at (850) 475-5530.
Road Crews Work All Night To Sand Bridges, Slick Spots
February 12, 2010
Escambia County’s Roads and Bridges Division worked most Thursday night to sand bridges and any potential slick spots across North Escambia.
“They are working hard to sand the bridges and make driving as safe as possible,” Interim County Administrator Larry Newsom told NorthEscambia.com. “It’s probably best that people stay off the roads.”
Pictured above: An Escambia County road crew spreads sand on a bridge in Bratt late Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Four Teens Busted After Burglary Attempt At Gas Station, Hair Salon
February 12, 2010
Four teens were busted after they tried to break into two business on South Main Street in Atmore Thursday night.
The teens attempted to burglarize the Tammie;s Cuttin’ Loose hair salon an a BP gas station next door. Two suspects were arrested at the location of the attempted burglaries. A third was located in front of Chen’s Chinese Buffet in a nearby shopping center on Lindberg Avenue, and the fourth was found hiding in the woods behind the BP. The four were taking into custody just before 8 p.m.