Florida Tab For Irma Already Mounting
September 16, 2017
Florida has preliminarily outlined more than $273 million in Hurricane Irma costs for federal reimbursement, with the money primarily used for storm preparation and debris removal.
The projection is from 25 state agencies for impacts from the storm that made landfall Sunday in the Florida Keys and Southwest Florida and then traveled up the state. The storm, which continued to leave nearly 1.9 million homes and businesses without power Friday morning, also caused still-unknown billions of dollars in damages — from property destruction to economic impacts — across the state.
The initial state projection, including $157.8 million for pre-storm protective measures and $90.8 million for debris removal, had not been completed by some agencies, including the Department of Citrus and the Department of Education.
But by comparison, the final tally for Hurricane Matthew, which affected the state without making landfall last October, was about $268.5 million.
Some agencies are listing modest impacts from Irma. The Department of Revenue put its costs at $954 for protective measures, and the Florida Lottery, which suspended games Sunday and Monday, reported $1,322 in impacts, of which $1,000 was for utilities.
The state Division of Emergency Management started to compile the numbers after President Donald Trump on Wednesday approved Gov. Rick Scott’s request for an emergency declaration.
The declaration authorized the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts, including equipment and resources.
The order also provides 75 percent federal funding for debris removal and emergency-protective measures.
More than 40 percent of the state’s initial projected costs, $112.77 million, were tied to storm preparation by the Division of Emergency Management.
The Department of Transportation, as part of its $108.5 million in storm costs, estimated debris removal will come to $86.8 million.
The Department of Corrections, which evacuated more than 12,000 inmates and on Thursday said some inmates will remain at alternative locations until road conditions improve and facilities can undergo necessary repairs, put its costs at $21.55 million.
With every member of the Florida National Guard activated, the Department of Military Affairs put its initial costs at $7.8 million.
Meanwhile, with the roughly 1,700 members of the Florida Highway Patrol working 12-hour shifts, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has placed its expenses at $4 million.
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, with more than 200 officers providing evacuation support and post-storm search and rescue missions, was up to $2.3 million.
The Department of Financial Services projected a $1.58 million impact, while the Department of Health was at $4.7 million.
The South Florida Water Management District has a preliminary $4.8 million tab, of which $3.3 million is projected for debris removal and $836,312 is for protective measures.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District, meanwhile, put costs at $1.58 million for protective measures.
Chance Of Showers And Thunderstorms Today
September 16, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. . Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Calm wind.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Disney Pours More Money Into Anti-Gambling Initiative
September 16, 2017
Disney Worldwide Services plowed another $600,000 in August into a ballot initiative that could make it harder to expand gambling in Florida, according to a newly filed campaign-finance report.
As of Aug. 31, Disney had contributed $1.75 million of the $1.98 million raised by a political committee known as Voters In Charge, which is leading efforts to get the initiative on the November 2018 ballot. The initiative would change the state Constitution and give voters the “exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling” in the state.
It would require voter approval of casino-style games in the future.
The political committee needs to submit a total of 766,200 petition signatures to get on the ballot. As of Monday morning, it had submitted 216,469 signatures, according to the state Division of Elections website. The committee had spent $1.47 million as of Aug. 31, with most of the money going to petition gathering and verification.
by The News Service of Florida
Portion Of Muscogee Road To Close, 120 Day Detour Planned
September 15, 2017
A portion of Muscogee Road in Cantonment from Beulah Road to Carlisle Road will be closed starting Thursday, September 28 for reconstruction of the road.
Construction will consist of the installation of a water main, drainage, reconstruction of the one mile stretch of Muscogee Road and construction of 5-foot shoulders.
Traffic will be detoured via Highway 29 and Barrineau Park Road to Highway 112 in Alabama. The roadway closure is expected to remain in effect for approximately 120 days. Every effort will be made to expedite construction efforts to reopen the road as soon as possible. Every effort will be made to expedite construction efforts to reopen the road as soon as possible..
Additionally, prior to the September 28 roadway closure, road crews will be working within the north right of way of Muscogee Road, between Carlisle and Beulah roads, installing a new 10-inch water main associated with the project. Drivers are asked to use caution within the work zone delineated by barrels and signage.
Pictured: A map, provided by Escambia County, showing the detour route for an upcoming Muscogee Road closure, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Reported Missing, Endangered 12 Years After Disappearance
September 15, 2017
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing, endangered man reported missing over a decade after he was last seen.
Timothy Allen Lamb, 46, is developmentally disabled, legally blind and suffers from a heart condition, according to Investigator Michelle Wert. He lived with his mother until 2003 and then lived with different friends in the Molino area. He did not work and did not drive.
“Taking care of him was like having a third child,” Wert said. “There is no way the he could be out there living on his own.”
Relatives last communicated with Lamb in 2004 due to “very strained family relationships,” she said. In 2016, a relative tried to contact Lamb, but discovered that he was no where to be found and he had not been seen by friends in years. He was last known to be living with a friend off Highway 97 in Molino in 2005.
Wert said it was the first time she has investigated a person reported missing so long after they were last seen, and that’s made the investigation difficult.
“It’s a real mystery where he could be,” she said.
Wert is asking anyone that knows anything about Lamb — whether recently or from years ago, the names of his friends or any other information contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Daily Rain Chances Return
September 15, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Ernest Ward Middle Eagles Defeat W.S. Neal Eagles
September 15, 2017
In their home opener in Walnut Hill, the Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles defeated the W.S. Neal Eagles Thursday night, 16-14. Next week, the Ernest Ward Eagles will host Perdido (AL) Middle School at 7 p.m. Ernest Ward’s Eagles are the only middle school football team in Escambia County, FL.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Rescued From Escambia River
September 15, 2017
Two people were rescued from the Escambia River Thursday night after their boat reportedly capsized.
The pair became stranded about a half mile from the Quinette Road bridge. They were transported back to a nearby boat launch with boats from Escambia Fire Rescue’s Cantonment and Molino stations.
There were no injuries report.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Visitations Canceled This Weekend At All Florida Prisons
September 15, 2017
Inmate visitations are canceled again this weekend as the Florida Department of Corrections continues recovery efforts from Hurricane Irma.
Weekend visitation for all institutions for Saturday, September 16, and Sunday, September 17 has been canceled. This cancellation includes all major institutions, annex facilities, work camps and work release centers. The cancellation includes the Century Correctionsl and Santa Rosa Correctional institutions.
The department cancelled visitation statewide in an abundance of caution and in the best interest of staff, inmates and public safety, according to the DOC. This decision was made in response to Hurricane Irma’s impact on Florida’s transportation infrastructure as well as the storm’s effect on operations at institutional facilities across the state.
Phone access is open at all facilities for officers and inmates. However, due to storm conditions, communications at many facilities continues to be impacted.
The FDC is working to bring all facilities back to normal operation as wardens work to assess and repair effected institutions.
Last week FDC, in collaboration with our private partners, successfully evacuated more than 12,000 inmates. Evacuations occurred without incident and there were no storm related injuries or incidents to inmates. Institutions are working to return inmates to their original facilities as quickly and safely as possible. However, some inmates will remain at alternative locations until road conditions improve and facilities can undergo necessary repairs. Inmate locations continue to be posted on the website approximately 24-hours after relocation, per standard protocol.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Register Now For Lil Aggies Cheerleading Camp
September 15, 2017
The Tate High School Cheerleaders are hosting their annual Lil Aggie Fall clinic on Saturday, September 23. The Lil Aggies will be able to cheer the first quarter of the Aggies’ home game against Washington on Friday, September 29.
The Lil Aggies will learn proper stretch techniques, cheers, chants, and jumps. The clinic is open from kindergarten to eighth grade. There will be a traditional and elite camp to serve all levels of cheerleaders.
The deadline to register is Monday, September 18th. Visit Tatehighcheer.com for a form or email tatehighcheer@gmail.com.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
