Storms Cause Injury, Damage In Santa Rosa County
March 9, 2011
The following is a summary of damage reported in Santa Rosa County as a result of Wednesday’s storms.
Structure Damage from high winds (The National Weather Service makes the determination if damage was caused by straight-line, microburst or tornadic activity):
- Damage to four homes in the 5000 block of Timber Ridge Drive off of Hamilton Bridge Road
- One home with major damage, approximately 50 percent of roof destroyed and water damage in the home, damaged estimates for structure approximately $100,000
- Three homes with minor roof damage
- Downed tree caused approximately $5,000 damage to a detached shed and above ground pool in the 4500 block of Teston Drive in Avalon.
Four fires were reported believed caused by lightning strikes as determined by fire departments:
- 8000 block of Molina Street in Holley-Navarre- residential fire
- 3900 block of Floridatown Road- residential fire
- 4900 Thoroughbred Drive- shed fire
- 5000 block of Persimmon Hollow Road- residential fire, lightning strike to propone operated stove
Other:
- One injury- Indirect lightning strike to a teenager at the Learning Academy, 5800 block of Stewart Street. The patient was touching a door handle when lightning struck nearby and was transported in stable condition to Santa Rosa Medical Center.
- Sporadic power outages, including several blocks of the downtown Milton.
- No official road closures.
EREC Restores All McDavid Customers In Undamaged Homes
March 9, 2011
Power has been restored to all undamaged homes in McDavid following a possible tornado this morning.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative spokesperson Nick Jackson said all customers were back on by about 2 p.m., except for a few customers in damaged homes where it would be unsafe to restore electricity.
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After The Storm: What You Need To Know
March 9, 2011
After storms like Wednesday’s possible tornado in Molino, there are important next steps for those that have damage.
NorthEscambia.com has tips residents and business owners below. At the bottom of this page, you will find a list of important phone numbers to know.
Your Need To Know: Making The Claim
Contact your insurance agent as quickly as possible. Let them know about your losses. If you are relocated temporarily, provide the address and phone number. The claim process may begin in one of two ways. Your insurance company may send a claim form for you to complete or an adjuster may visit your home first, before you are asked to fill out any forms.
Most homeowners policies cover additional living expenses. Your insurance company should advance you money if you need temporary shelter, food and clothing because you can no longer live in your home and your clothes have been ruined. They will also advance you money if you need to replace major household items immediately to continue living there.
Keep receipts for everything you spend. Make sure the check for additional living expenses is made out to you and not your mortgage, the bank or other lender. This money has nothing to do with repairs to your home and you may have difficulty depositing or cashing the check without their signature.
Make only those repairs necessary to prevent further damage to your home or business. This must include covering breaks or holes in the roof, walls or windows with plywood, canvas or other waterproof material. Your insurance company will reimburse you for the costs of your repairs, so keep receipts for any materials you buy. Do not have permanent repairs made without first consulting your agent. Unauthorized repairs may not be reimbursed.
Avoid using electrical appliances, including televisions and stereos, which have been exposed to water, unless a technician has checked them.
If your car was damaged and you have “comprehensive” coverage in your auto insurance policy, you should also contact your auto insurance company.
Make as many photographs as possible of damage for documentation.
Your Need To Know: Preparing For The Adjuster’s Visit
An adjuster is a person professionally trained to assess the damage. The more information you have about your possessions the faster your claim can be settled. You should already have a complete inventory of the items in your home that includes a description of the item, model and serial numbers (if applicable) and the original cost and what it would cost to replace it.
Make a list of damaged items. Take photographs of the damage and put together a set of records for each item that includes any old receipts or bills. Don’t forget to list items such as clothing, sports equipment, tools, china and linens, etc.
Don’t throw away damaged furniture or other items because the adjuster will want to see them.
Identify the structural damage to your home and other buildings on your premises. Make a list of everything you want to show the adjuster when they arrive. In some cases, the adjuster may recommend hiring a licensed engineer or architect to inspect the property. You should also get the electrical system checked. Most insurance companies will pay for these inspections.
If possible, get written bids from reliable, licensed contractors on the repair work. This should make adjusting the claim faster and simpler.
Homeowners insurance policies usually don’t cover flood damage but they do cover other kinds of water damage. For example, they would generally pay for damage from rain coming through a hole in the roof or a broken window as long as the hole was caused by a hurricane or other disaster covered by the policy. You need a separate flood insurance policy to cover flood damage from any rising water. Contact your insurance agent regarding your coverage and the need for flood insurance.
If your home was severely damaged, you may have to rebuild sections in accordance with current building codes. In some cases, complying with the code may require a change in design or building materials and may cost more. Generally, homeowners insurance policies will not pay for these extra costs. Some insurance companies offer an endorsement that pays for a specified amount toward such changes.
Most insurance companies will pay for removal of trees that have fallen on your home but they will not pay to remove trees that have fallen and haven’t caused any damage to your home. Neither will they pay to replace trees or shrubbery that have been damaged by the storm.
Now is the time you should get an “insurance checkup”. Contact your insurance agent and make sure what your policy covers and doesn’t cover. After a disaster is not the time for surprises and finding out that you are not covered for losses.
Your Need To Know: Phone Numbers
- Emergencies: 911
- Gulf Power Company: 505-5711 or (800) 487-6937
- Escambia River Electric Cooperative: 1-877-OUT-EREC (1-877-688-3732)
- Frontier Communications: 611 or 587-5119 or (800) 476-4001 (611 will not reach Frontier from a cellular phone)
- ECUA: (850) 476-0480
- Bright House Cable: (866) 876-1872
- Energy Services of Pensacola (ESP): 474-5300
- DirecTV: (800) 494-4388
- Dish Network: (888) 284-7116
- Escambia County Sheriff: 436-9630
- American Red Cross: 432-7601
- Salvation Army: 432-1501
- Florida Department of Insurance: 800-22-STORM
- Florida Department of Agriculture: 800-435-7352
- Attorney General (Consumer Fraud): 850-414-3600
- Crisis Counseling & Referral: 888-532-4006
No Damage At Area Schools
March 9, 2011
There was no damage reported at any of the North Escambia area schools Wednesday morning as a possible tornado crossed the county just a few miles away.
Because a tornado warning had been issued by the National Weather Service, students were already in hallways and other safe locations.
The first report of a funnel cloud came from an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy only about a mile from Ernest Ward Middle School.
TORNADO WARNING: North Escambia, Santa Rosa, Escambia, Ala
March 9, 2011
ornado Warning
Statement as of 9:26 AM CST on March 09, 2011
* Tornado Warning for…
northern Escambia County in northwest Florida…
this includes the cities of…Molino…century…
northern Santa Rosa County in northwest Florida…
southern Escambia County in south central Alabama…
this includes the cities of…Flomaton…East Brewton…
east central Baldwin County in southwest Alabama…
* until 1015 am CST
* at 921 am CST…National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing a tornado along a
line extending from Flomaton to 10 miles northwest of Molino to 13
miles west of Molino…moving east at 55 mph.
* Tornado producing storms will be near…
Riverview…Jay and Molino around 935 am CST…
Dixonville and East Brewton around 940 am CST…
McLellan around 945 am CST…
Milton near whitin around 950 am CST…
TORNADO WARNING: Escambia Florida
March 9, 2011
Tornado Warning
Statement as of 9:10 AM CST on March 09, 2011
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Tornado Warning for…
central Escambia County in northwest Florida…
this includes the cities of…Gonzalez…Ensley…
southern Baldwin County in southwest Alabama…
this includes the cities of…Spanish Fort…Robertsdale…
Loxley…Fairhope…Daphne…
* until 1000 am CST
* at 907 am CST…National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado near Daphne…or
near Jackson Oak…moving east at 45 mph.
* The tornado will be near…
Loxley…Silverhill and Robertsdale around 920 am CST…
This includes Interstate 10 in Florida between mile markers 1 and 10.
This includes Interstate 10 in Alabama between mile markers 34 and
66.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
The safest place to be during a tornado is in a basement. Get under a
workbench or other piece of sturdy furniture. If no basement is
available…seek shelter on the lowest floor of the building in an
interior hallway or room such as a closet. Use blankets or pillows to
cover your body and always stay away from windows.
If in Mobile homes or vehicles…evacuate them and get inside a
substantial shelter. If no shelter is available…lie flat in the
nearest ditch or other low spot and cover your head with your hands.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Escambia, Florida And Alabama
March 9, 2011
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Statement as of 9:02 AM CST on March 09, 2011
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
Escambia County in northwest Florida…
this includes the cities of…West Pensacola…Warrington…
Pensacola…Myrtle Grove…Molino…Goulding…
Pass…Ensley…century…Brent…Bellview…
western Santa Rosa County in northwest Florida…
this includes the city of pace…
southern Escambia County in south central Alabama…
this includes the cities of…Flomaton…East Brewton…Brewton…
Atmore…
Baldwin County in southwest Alabama…
this includes the cities of…Orange Beach…Gulf Shores…Spanish
Fort…Robertsdale…Point Clear…Loxley…Foley…Fairhope…
Daphne…Bay Minette…
* until 1000 am CST
* at 858 am CST…National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing quarter size
hail…and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. These storms were
located along a line extending from 7 miles southwest of Atmore
to 6 miles south of Bay Minette to 11 miles southwest of Dauphin
Island…and moving east at 50 mph.
* Severe thunderstorms will be near…
Atmore and mouth of Weeks Bay around 905 am CST…
Summerdale…Silverhill…Robertsdale and Loxley around 910 am
CST…
Oak Grove…Palmetto Beach…Cedar Grove and Oak around 915 am
CST…
Flash Flood Warning, Escambia Ala.
March 9, 2011
Flash Flood Warning
Statement as of 8:48 AM CST on March 09, 2011
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for…
western Conecuh County in south central Alabama…
this includes the city of Evergreen…
Escambia County in south central Alabama…
this includes the cities of…Flomaton…East Brewton…Brewton…
Atmore…
* until 245 PM CST
* at 842 am CST…National Weather Service radar indicated very heavy
rain from a line of thunderstorms moving across Conecuh and
Escambia counties Alabama. These storms have been producing up to
3 inches of rain in a short amount of time which will quickly lead
to flash flooding.
Most flood deaths occur in automobiles. Never drive your vehicle into
areas where the water covers the roadway. Flood waters are usually
deeper than they appear. Just one foot of flowing water is powerful
enough to sweep vehicles off the Road. When encountering flooded
roads make the smart choice…turn around…dont drown.
Tornado, Flash Flood Watch: Severe Storms, Heavy Rain Possible
March 9, 2011
Severe storms and heavy rains are forecast for Wednesday. A tornado watch, flash flood watch and wind advisory are in effect for today.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Today: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 74. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
- Tonight: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. West wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 36. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
- Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Free Health Clinic To Provide Health And Hope For North Escambia
March 9, 2011
There will soon be help and hope for the uninsured and medically underserved in the North Escambia area.
Work is underway now to prepare for an April opening of the Health And Hope Northend Clinic in Century. The new clinic in Century will be an entirely volunteer and donor driven clinic established by the Pensacola Bay Baptist Association in order to help meet the need of the medically underserved population in Escambia County. The clinic will target patients who are without access to health insurance and with an income at or below 150-percent of the poverty level.
At the Century clinic, as well as an existing Health and Hope Clinic in Pensacola, doctors, mid-level providers, nurses, pharmacists, medical technologists, case workers, clerical workers, medical assistants, equipment specialists, encouragers and more volunteer side-by-side to provide Christ-centered health care.
The new Northend Health and Hope Clinic will be located in the former Escambia County Health Department building on Church Street in Century.
This past weekend, youth and adult leader volunteers gathered at the Century clinic to paint the building’s interior. Youth groups from Highland Baptist, the First Baptist Church of Century, the First Baptist Church of Bratt, Walnut Hill Baptist and Ray’s Chapel Baptist churches took part. For more photos, click here.
The Health and Hope Clinic is seeking volunteers, supplies and equipment for the Century clinic. For more information, click here or call (850) 479-4456.
Pictured: Youth groups from several North Escambia churches volunteered to paint the new Health and Hope Clinic in Century. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.