Over 2200 Escambia Homes, Businesses Damaged Or Destroyed In Flood
May 3, 2014
Over 2,200 Escambia County homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed in this week’s floods, according to the Escambia County Building Inspections Damage Assessment Team.
The latest information, as of Friday, indicated that 1,252 homes suffered major damage with 12 inches or more of water, 930 homes had minor damage and three homes were destroyed. In addition, 50 businesses suffered major damage.
Those numbers are expected to increase as the team continues damage assessments throughout the weekend.
The Escambia County Shelter Transition Team will be coordinating the housing needs of residents, along with other community partners and agencies, in assisting persons to return to either temporary or permanent housing while homes are being repaired.
An American Red Cross shelter is also open at the Fricker Community Center, 900 North “F” Street, Pensacola. There were 60 people in the shelter on Friday.
Pictured above and below: Homes with major flood damage on Bristol Park Road (top) and Woodbreeze Drive (below). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Teams At Hillcrest Offer Help, Need Volunteers
May 3, 2014
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Teams are in the area and ready to work.
They are operating from a command center at Hillcrest Baptist Church. They are providing assistance to citizens who need help with basic clean up. Their team can help break down damaged sheetrock and carpet and then provide sanitizing services to damaged homes.
The disaster relief team offices at Heritage Hall inside of Hillcrest Baptist Church will be open from 8 am to 8 pm. Citizens can either walk-in or make an appointment by calling (850) 476-2233.
Volunteers are also needed.
Florida Lawmakers Approve Budget and Adjourn 2014 Session
May 3, 2014
.Lawmakers passed an election-year budget of $77.1 billion — the largest state spending plan in history — before closing out the 2014 legislative session and heading home to campaign.
Lawmakers approved the budget by lopsided margins — 102-15 in the House and a unanimous 40-0 in the Senate. Moments after the final votes, House Speaker Will Weatherford and Senate President Don Gaetz brought down the final gavels of the legislative session, ending the annual meeting at 10:40 p.m. Friday.
Gov. Rick Scott praised the results of the session, his last before he faces voters in November.
“Let’s think about what we accomplished: $500 million back in Florida families’ pockets. Lower tuition for every Florida family,” Scott said after the conclusion. “It doesn’t matter what country you were born in, what family or what zip code. You will have your shot to live the American dream.”
Democrats were less impressed.
“Florida’s middle class deserves better than what’s left over, after Tallahassee Republicans have finished giving the special interests big tax handouts,” Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant said in a statement issued moments after the session ended. “Republicans refused to even vote on legislation to raise the minimum wage, guarantee equal pay for women, invest in public schools, and expand access to health care. They put the middle class last.”
The budget, lawmakers’ only constitutionally required duty, spreads around a hefty surplus, adding new money to public schools, state colleges and universities, environmental projects and child welfare while leaving room for a $500 million tax cut likely to serve as a centerpiece of Scott’s re-election campaign.
Critics say budget-writers also made sure to pump money into pork-barrel projects, some of which could fall to Scott’s line-item veto.
Due largely to the spending plan’s generosity, few Democrats dared vote against the measure. Only a third of the House Democratic caucus — including leaders and members from some of the most liberal districts in the state — opposed the bill.
Supporters touted the plan’s highlights, including an education budget that was the largest in Florida history in terms of its total amount.
“We are now the gold standard for how to fund education on a pure volume of dollars amount,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach. “And I think that’s a great message to send to every teacher, student and parent: that public education matters, we’re serious about it, and we’ve put our money where our mouth is.”
But those who opposed the blueprint argued that it didn’t do enough. On a per-student basis, education funding is still almost $190 below where it stood before the 2008 financial collapse, and thousands of Floridians remain on waiting lists for state health-care services.
“The economy is good. We’re moving in the right direction. There’s more money around. But there’s a problem with priorities,” said Rep. Elaine Schwartz, D-Hollywood.
Former Gov. Charlie Crist, Scott’s most likely Democratic opponent, issued a statement Friday calling for a special session to put more money into schools.
“Governor Scott needs to fix this budget. He should use his line-item veto and judge every pork project by one test: Would this money be better spent helping Florida’s children? After vetoing the pork spending, Scott should call the legislature back to town and tell them to put that money into our public schools,” Crist said.
Members of Crist’s own party, though, were among those defending the millions of dollars in local projects stuffed into the plan.
Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said he was glad the budget is “chock-full” of programs that help small communities, while Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Royal Palm Beach, said the plan will bring road and drinking water improvements to western Palm Beach County.
“The roads in the Glades are worse than a third-world country, and that is not an exaggeration,” Abruzzo said. “How can you ever have economic development when you don’t have the basic infrastructure?”
Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said the Legislature spent money responsibly in the budget.
“But at the same time, we believe that our members have initiatives that are important to their district and we allowed them to bring those initiatives before our budget process,” he said. “Some of them went in. some of them did not.”
The budget votes capped off a frenetic day of deal-making at the Capitol, as lawmakers put the finishing touches on bills expanding eligibility for the state’s de facto voucher program, allowing some undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates and setting up a process to rank sports-stadium subsidy proposals.
A handful of items, though, didn’t make it. Weatherford’s drive to overhaul the state’s pension system died in the Senate before the final day. As the session ended, wide-ranging bills dealing with insurance and health-care issues fell apart under the weight of lengthy lists of amendments.
“We left a little bit on the table,” said Gaetz, R-Niceville. “That’s why they make next year.”
Senior writer Dara Kam and reporter Jim Turner contributed to this report from Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida.
Pictured top: The 2014 Legislative Session came to a close just before 11 p.m. Eastern Friday night. Photo by Tom Urban for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Lockdown: Suspicous Person Had Pellet Gun Hunting Snakes
May 3, 2014
Tate High School was placed on lockdown about 12:45 Friday afternoon after deputies were notified of a suspicious person in the area of Tate High School, armed with a rifle.
Multiple units responded to the area of Tate Road and Swift Creek Drive and took the individual into custody about 1,000 feet from the Tate campus. The individual that was located was dressed in camouflage and carrying a large black gun which was later determined to be a pellet gun.
According to the individual, he was in the area hunting snakes. The individual was released and Tate High School was removed from lockdown at about 1:30 pm.
Pictured: A suspicious person was taken into custody here on Tate School Road near Swift Creek Drive, aboutt 1,000 feet from the Tate campus. Top reader submitted photo by Shane Carter. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Health Alert Issued For Escambia River Due To Sewage Release
May 3, 2014
Effective immediately, the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County has issued a health alert for the Escambia River south of Becks Lake Road.
Recent excessive rain has placed an increased load on the ECUA Central Waste Water Facility resulting in the release of partially-treated sewage into the wetlands that lead to Escambia River.
The health department is advising against any water-related activities due to the potential for high bacteria levels.
In addition to the above alert above, the health department emphasized that all flood waters including surface waters will be affected with potentially high bacteria counts due to the excessive storm water runoff and sewage overflows.
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County will continue to monitor the situation until the alert is rescinded. For more information, call (850) 595-6700
Escambia Woman Dies In Head On Crash With School Bus
May 3, 2014
An Escambia County woman died in a head on collision with a school bus Friday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 46-year old Amanda June Widdup was headed north on South Blue Angel Parkway when she crossed into the northbound lane and into the path of a 2007 school bus driven by 62-year old Jospephine T. Marvay of Pensacola. Widdup was pronounced deceased as a result of the crash.
Marvay and an adult passenger, 35-year old Chinequa Rudolph, were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
ECUA Flood Update: Water, Sewage, Trash
May 3, 2014
Here is the latest post-flood update from ECUA:
Sewer Services:
The Central CWRF is up and running at full capacity and treating the influent at Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) levels. We have also resumed accepting septage from private haulers at this facility. The release of secondary treated effluent from the CWRF‘s 70-million gallon wet weather storage pond was made for two reasons: to accept the maximum flow at the CWRF and manage the stormwater inundation at the plant instead of allowing wastewater and stormwater to surcharge manholes in populated areas of the community, and to protect the integrity of the holding pond.
Flows could have been restricted into the plant keeping it in operation, and treating a fraction of the overall influent. This would have caused stormwater / sanitary sewer water overflows everywhere. It was considered to be a much more advisable to centralize the maximum influent at one location, provide minimal treatment (secondary level), and then discharge the flows to a wetlands area, which ultimately flows to the Escambia River. The Department of Health and FDEP representatives agreed with the process. Essentially we have been pumping huge amounts of stormwater from downtown and populated areas, draining the flooded areas purposely to avoid overflows throughout the county.
The wastewater collection system and lift stations are up and running. We still have some power outages and some lift stations are still submerged by stormwater, but we have everything operational and are using the roving generator crews to manage those issues.
ECUA is working with the City of Pensacola to develop a repair plan for the roadway and utility services for Piedmont Street. We’re working with the Escambia County Health Department to provide a working solution in lieu of sewer service that will allow residents to remain in their homes during the reconstruction process. A joint release is being developed for tomorrow from all three agencies with further details.
The wastewater collection system and lift stations are up and running. We still have some power outages and some lift stations are still submerged by stormwater, but we have everything operational and are using the roving generator crews to manage those issues.
Water Services:
The water system is basically intact although there may be isolated repairs we will be making as areas of concern are received from customers.
The MANDATORY BOIL WATER NOTICE FOR EAST PENSACOLA AREA is LIFTED
Effective immediately, the precautionary boil water notice issued for ECUA customers located on the following area has been lifted:
- North Boundary: Interstate 10
- West Boundary: Tippin/12th Avenue
- East and Southern Boundaries: Escambia and Pensacola Bays
Two independent sets of bacteriological samples were reported as clear, lifting the notice that was issued on Wednesday, April 30.
Other Precautionary Boil Water Notices
Precautionary boil water notices are still in effect for all the areas listed below while we await results of the second sets of samples, which should be completed Saturday afternoon. Information will be disseminated to media via release and will also be posted on the Public Advisories section of the ECUA website.
- Calvin Street between Rhonda Street and Orby Street
- Orby Street, from Calvin Street west to the dead end of Orby
- Nowlin Street
- Daniel Street
- Rufus Street
- Rhonda Street, between Calvin Street and Rufus Street
- Lillian Hwy., west of Bauer Road
- Joaquin Road
- Juan Road
- Bronson Road
- Bronson Field Naval Recreation Center,
- Trout Road
- Hartung Avenue
- Joceline Road
- Tracy Road
- Ogden Road
- Rosirito Place
- Cordova Road
- Moss Drive
- Sandy Beach Drive
- Perdido Manor Drive
- Paradise Ln,
- Paradise Beach Place
- Paradise Beach Circle.
- Residents were advised directly by door-hanger for these three isolated locations and the advisories will also be lifted via door-hanger:
- Gamwell Road
- Hurst Hammock
- 8100 Block of Scenic Hwy.
Residents are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil, or to use 8 drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking of cooking purposes.
Two independent bacteriological samples will be initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours. Precautionary Boil Water Notices are issued as a part of standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
ECUA crews have completed repair work and flushed out the lines. Residents are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the breaks, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at 850-476-0480 for assistance, or see precautionary boil water notice guidelines on the ECUA website at www.ecua.fl.gov
Water service has been restored to Piedmont Road and Crescent Lake, including all other locations that had experienced main breaks.
Sanitation Services
ECUA residential and commercial sanitation collections are delayed by one day for the balance of the week. Collections scheduled for Friday will be made Saturday.
All services are being provided including curbside recycling, yard waste and bulk waste collections. Yard waste and bulk waste collection may be delayed due to the heavy volume of flood debris. Collection crews will be working overtime and weekends until the clean-up is completed. Please do not place any debris in the right of way unless it is ready to be removed by ECUA collection crews. For more information, customers may contact ECUA Customer Service at 850-476-0480.
Bristol Park
ECUA will have a special collection scheduled for the Bristol Park area on Sunday, May 4. ECUA personnel visited the area Friday to speak directly with residents, discuss Sunday’s activities and hear their concerns in advance of the collection.
Molino Park Holds Muffins For Moms And Field Day
May 3, 2014
There were two big events at Molino Park Elementary School on Friday — Muffins for Moms and Field Day.
Muffins for Moms, sponsored by the PTA, gave moms a chance to stop by with children and learn about the latest school information. The school recently held a similar “Donuts With Dad” event.
Pictured top and below: Field Day at Molino Park Elementary. Pictured inset and bottom: Muffins for Moms at MPES. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Florida Lawamkers Ban E-Cig Sales To Minors
May 3, 2014
Florida lawmakers passed a plan Friday that would ban the sales of electronic cigarettes to minors. The House voted 117-0 to approve the bill (SB 224), which had earlier passed the Senate. It now goes to Gov. Rick Scot for his signature.
“Electronic cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular,” Senate sponsor Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, said in a prepared statement. “However, by putting age restrictions on these harmful nicotine devices we are taking the steps necessary to keep our impressionable children healthy and strong.”
Supporters of the bill contend that use of the trendy tubes, which deliver nicotine, can lead to young people smoking tobacco.
Last Chance To See ‘Shrek the Musical’
May 3, 2014
Shrek the Musical will be presented again tonight at Northview High School.
The musical is based on the Oscar winning DreamWorks film that started it all, bringing the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage.
Shrek the Musical will be presented at 7:00 tonight in the Northview threatre. Admission is $8 at the door.
COMING MONDAY: NorthEscambia.com will have a complete photo gallery from Shrek The Musical.
Pictured top: Donkey (Kendrick Walker) and Shrek (Cory Hester) make their plans to rescue a princess during Shrek the Musical Friday night at Northview High School. Pictured inset: Fiona (Anna Donald) counts the days that she’s been held in a castle tower. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.