Coast Guard, Good Samaritans Rescue Seven From Capsized Vessel Off Pensacola
May 23, 2020
The Coast Guard, with assistance from three good Samaritan vessels, rescued seven people from a capsized recreational vessel offshore from Pensacola on Friday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at approximately 8:30 a.m. that the 28-foot recreational vessel, Uno Mas, was taking on water. Coast Guard Station Pensacola launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew to assist.
In the process of launching rescue assets, Sector Mobile received an additional report that all seven people had moved to nearby good Samaritan vessels and no injuries were reported. The boat crew from Station Pensacola picked up five adults and two children from the good Samaritan vessels and returned to Orange Beach.
“This case highlights the importance of having vital life saving equipment while boating,” said Lt. Cmdr. Corrie Sergent, Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator at Sector Mobile. “The fact that all people aboard were wearing life jackets and used their VHF radios to call for help ensured their successful rescue. We are thankful for the quick actions of the good Samaritans vessels nearby providing assistance until our crew could arrive.”
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s Unemployment Rate Skyrockets To 12.8%
May 23, 2020
The April unemployment rate in Escambia County and across Florida skyrocketed in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 12.9 percent in April 2020, up 8.5 percentage points from the revised March 2020 rate of 4.4 percent, and up 9.6 percentage points from a year ago. There
were over 1.2 million jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 9,438,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was 14.7 percent in April.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate soared to 12.8% in April, up from 4.5% in March and 3.2% in February. One year ago, it was just 2.9%.
There were nearly 11,000 people that lost their jobs in Escambia County between March and April.
The jobless rate is bad across Florida, with 43 of the states 67 counties with a jobless rate of 10% or worse.
The jobless numbers do not count those that applied for unemployment in May. Those numbers will be out in June.
Warm And Humid Memorial Day Weekend With A Chance Of Scattered Showers
May 23, 2020
A burn ban remains in effect for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Memorial Day: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Palafox Street In Downtown Pensacola Will Be Pedestrian Only Every Sunday Through June
May 23, 2020
A section of Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola will be closed to vehicle traffic for “Sunday Strolls” every Sunday in May and June to promote safe outdoor retail and restaurant activities to support local businesses.
Palafox Street from Garden Street to Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every Sunday through June beginning Sunday, May 24.
Closing the street to vehicular traffic will provide additional space for downtown visitors to more easily practice social distancing while supporting local businesses.
The City of Pensacola hopes area residents will support local restaurants and businesses as they enter economic recovery. CDC social distancing guidelines should be followed.
DeSantis Lifts All Restrictions On Youth Activities
May 22, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that he is lifting restrictions on youth activities effective immediately.
“Effective immediately, Florida will be lifting all restrictions on youth activities including summer camps and athletics,” Gov. DeSantis said during a Jacksonville news conference. “We believe this makes sense based on the data and observed experience.”
The Florida Department of Health may post some best practice guidelines, but they won’t be “instituting a lot of rules or any rules”.
“At the end of the day, we trust parents to be able to make decisions in conjunction with physicians and community leaders and coaches to be able to do these activities in a way that is safe,” he said.
Local municipalities will still be able to implement restrictions if they choose.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
One Additional COVID-19 Death Recorded In Escambia County
May 22, 2020
The number of reported COVID-19 deaths in Escambia County increased by one on Friday to 25, as the number of cases increased by a half dozen.
The death of a 76-year old male was not indicated as a long-term care center related fatality, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The number of cases in Escambia County increased by six to 740,, and Santa Rosa was up by one to 198.
Of the 25 deaths in Escambia County, 18 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been eight deaths in Santa Rosa County, seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and none in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 49,451 cases including 48,150 Florida residents. There have been 9,117 hospitalizations and 2,190 deaths.
- Total cases — 740 (+6 since Thursday)
- Pensacola — 545
- Cantonment — 48
- Bellview — 6
- Perdido Key — 1
- McDavid/Walnut Hill — 1
- Molino – 4
- Century — 2
- Hospitalizations: 63*
- Deaths — 25
- Male — 255
- Female — 355
- Youngest — 0
- Oldest — 105
Santa Rosa County cases:
- Total cases — 199 (+1 since Thursday)
- Milton — 119
- Navarre — 35
- Gulf Breeze — 26
- Pace — 16
- Jay — 2
- Residents: 129
- Nonresidents — 1
- Hospitalizations — 23*
- Deaths — 9
- Male — 135
- Female — 60
- Youngest — 2 months
- Oldest — 94
Florida cases:
- Total cases — 49,451
- Florida residents — 48,150
- Deaths — 2,190
- Hospitalizations — 9,117*
*“Hospitalizations” is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized.
All But One COVID-19 Death In Escambia County Was Someone Over Age 65; 75% Were Long-Term Care Residents
May 22, 2020
Every COVID-19 death but one in Escambia County was someone over 65-years old and 75% of the deaths have been directly related to long-term care facilities, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The death toll in Escambia County increased by three on Thursday to 24 people. The youngest was a 52-year old female, and the oldest was a 103-year old female. Most of the deaths (21) were over 70-years old.
Three-quarters of the COVID-19 deaths in Escambia County have been in long-term care facility residents or staff members (18 total).
NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park Historical Society Awards Four Scholarships
May 22, 2020
The Barrineau Park Historical Society has presented scholarships to four deserving high school seniors. The scholarships were presented to Emma Barlow, Tate High School; Kayla McKillion, Northview High School; Raeleigh Woodfin, Northview High School; and Sierra Ziglar, home-schooled.
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Emma Barlow, senior at Tate High,received the Stephen Jogan $1,000 Scholarship from the Barrineau Park Historical Society. She plans to attend the Universit of South Alabama in the fall and major in pre-medical and transfer to the University of Alabama at Birmingham to get her medical degree.
Kayla McKillion, a Northview High senior, was presented the Lynda C. Minchew Scholarship worth $500 presented by BPHS President Craig Exner. The Bobby Minchew family endowed the funds for this scholarship in honor of Lynda who was a strong supporter of education and her grandmother, Bernice Crabtree Vaughn who was an avid volunteer at Barrineau Park Elementary. Kayla will be attending the University of West Florida and plans to major in nursing.
Raeleigh Woodfin, a Northview High senior, was awarded a $500 scholarship by the Louis Crabtree, Sr. Family in memory of Louis, a strong supporter and lifetime member of the Barrineau Park Historical Society. Raeleigh plans to attend Troy University in the fall and major in Communication Arts and Agriculture.
Sierra Ziglar, a home-schooled senior, received a $1,000 Barrineau Park Historical Society Scholarship presented by BPHS President Craig Exner. Sierra has been active in mission work in third world countries and will attend the University of West Florida in the fall and major in nursing.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NOAA Predicts Above Average Hurricane Season, And Here’s The List Of Storm Names
May 22, 2020
An above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is expected, according to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service.
The outlook released Thursday predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and only a 10% chance of a below-normal season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a likely range of 13 to 19 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes.
NOAA said they have a 70 percent confidence rate in their forecast.
“As Americans focus their attention on a safe and healthy reopening of our country, it remains critically important that we also remember to make the necessary preparations for the upcoming hurricane season,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Just as in years past, NOAA experts will stay ahead of developing hurricanes and tropical storms and provide the forecasts and warnings we depend on to stay safe.”
The combination of several climate factors is driving the strong likelihood for above-normal activity in the Atlantic this year. El Nino conditions are expected to either remain neutral or to trend toward La Nina, meaning there will not be an El Nino present to suppress hurricane activity. Also, warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, coupled with reduced vertical wind shear, weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds, and an enhanced west African monsoon all increase the likelihood for an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Similar conditions have been producing more active seasons since the current high-activity era began in 1995.
“NOAA’s analysis of current and seasonal atmospheric conditions reveals a recipe for an active Atlantic hurricane season this year,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator. “Our skilled forecasters, coupled with upgrades to our computer models and observing technologies, will provide accurate and timely forecasts to protect life and property.”
Family Photo Shoot: Canada Geese At Lake Stone
May 22, 2020
NorthEscambia.com recently did a “family photo shoot” at Lake Stone with a family of Canada geese.
Two adults and their youngsters enjoyed a nice sunrise and morning walk at the lake on West Highway 4 just outside Century.
The geese are often seen at Lake Stone this time of the year.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
