Receive Money from FEMA? Keep Your Receipts To Show How You Used It
November 28, 2020
If you received Hurricane Sally recovery money from FEMA, the federal agency is reminding you to use the money for its intended purpose and to keep receipts for three years.
Disaster assistance is intended to help residents meet basic disaster-related needs. A letter explaining what the payment is to be used for arrives within a day or two of the check or direct deposit payment.
If applicants spend the payment on anything other than the purpose for which it is intended, they may be denied future disaster assistance. In some cases, FEMA may ask that the money be returned.
Those receiving assistance are urged to keep receipts for their disaster spending for three years to document that the money was used to meet disaster-related needs. If recipients receive an insurance settlement to cover the same expenses, they must reimburse FEMA. Audits are conducted to confirm funds were spent properly.
Disaster survivors in Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties with uninsured losses can apply by:
- Visiting DisasterAssistance.gov;
- Downloading the FEMA App; or by
- Calling 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY). Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should provide FEMA with their specific phone number assigned to that service.
Pictured: A Hurricane Sally damaged home in Escambia County. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Free Food Distribution Monday Morning In Molino
November 28, 2020
A 5,000 pound food giveaway will be he held on Monday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino.
The parking lot will open at 8 a.m. and the distribution will take place from 10 a.m. until noon (while supplies last). The event is first come, first served for Florida residents only, and an identification is required. Participants will stay in their vehicles.
Aldersgate United Methodist Church is located at 6915 Highway 29 in Molino, just south of Highway 97.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
5A Regional Semifinals: Baker County Tops Pine Forest
November 28, 2020
5A Regional Semifinals
(9) Baker County 28, Pine Forest 19.
The Pine Forest Eagles ended their season at 4-5.
247 New COVID-19 Cases, Two New Deaths Reported In Two Days In Escambia County
November 28, 2020
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 247 additional COVID-19 cases and two new deaths in Escambia County as reported Friday by the Florida Department of Health.
All numbers in this story reflect data for a two day period because the FDOH did not issue a report on Thanksgiving Day.
Here is the latest data:
Total cases: 16,470 (+247)
Non-Florida residents: 1,778
Total deaths: 301 (+2)
Long-term care facility deaths : 138
Current hospitalizations: 90 (+1)
Number of tests last day: 982
Percent positive last day: 5.2%
Percent positive last week: 8.6%
Escambia County cases by location:
Pensacola: 12,030 (+176)
Cantonment: 1,254 (+29)
Century: 954 (+1)
—-including 773 Century prison inmates
Molino: 197 (+2)
McDavid: 98 (+1)
Bellview: 26 (+1)
Walnut Hill: 18
Perdido Key: 14
Gonzalez: 9 (+1)
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 7,355 (+163)
Non-Florida residents: 96
Total deaths: 102 (+2)
Long-term care facility deaths: 23 (+1)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 425*
Number of tests last day: 405
Percent positive last day: 15.27%
Santa Rosa County cases by location:
Milton: 3,907 (+53)
Gulf Breeze: 1,246 (Monday) (+18)
Navarre: 1,227 (+49)
Pace: 599 (+4)
Jay: 189 (+5)
Bagdad: 17
Florida cases:
Total cases: 979,020
Florida residents: 963,751
Deaths: 18,363
Hospitalizations: 54,457*
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
*The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
It’s The Holiday Season, And Gulf Power Says You Can Save Energy With These Tips
November 28, 2020
It’s the holiday season, and Gulf Power is offering tips on how to keep your utility bill from soaring.
Cooking
- Oven preheating is usually not required and wastes energy. When preheating is required, avoid preheating longer than necessary. Preheating takes about eight minutes.Turn off the oven a few minutes before cooking is finished. Retained heat will complete the job.
- Use the microwave whenever possible, it’s the most efficient way to cook or reheat food.
- Don’t use your range or oven to heat the kitchen. It’s inefficient and can be a safety hazard.
- Choose pots and pans that have wide flat bottoms that just cover the burner. They will absorb all the heat and cook food more evenly. Aluminum pans with flat bottoms, straight sides, and tight fitting lids are best for energy savings.
Dishwasher
- Proper loading is important. Operate only when it is filled to capacity.
- If manufacturer’s instructions permit, open the door of your dishwasher after the last rinse cycle to allow moisture to escape and the dishes to dry as they cool. Some units have a “power-saver switch” that automatically eliminates the drying cycle.
Refrigerator
- Keep the refrigerator between 37º and 40º and the freezer setting at 0º.
- Keep condenser coils clean. Vacuum the coils at least twice a year.
- Make sure the door gasket seals tightly. To test, close the refrigerator door on a dollar bill. If you can slip the bill out easily, or, worse, if it falls out on its own, the door needs to be adjusted or the gasket needs to be replaced.
- Let hot foods cool before placing them in the refrigerator.
- Position the refrigerator away from heat sources. If the unit has back coils, position it at least 4″ from the wall.
- Plan ahead and remove all ingredients at one time, and avoid keeping the refrigerator door open. Each time the door of a refrigerator or freezer is opened, its compressor has to run a bit longer to replace the cold air that spills out.
- Think about getting rid of your extra refrigerator or freezer as they generally are inefficient and can cost two to three times more to operate per month.
Thermostat
- If you’re having people over, make sure to adjust the thermostat before guests arrive.
- If it’s cold outside, lower the thermostat a degree or two. The body heat from guests as well as the heat from cooking will raise your home’s temperature without having to run the heater.
Deadline Is Tuesday To Apply For FEMA, SBA Assistance For Uninsured Sally Damages
November 27, 2020
Just over a week remains to apply for federal Hurricane Sally assistance from FEMA and SBA.
The FEMA application deadline for Escambia County residents with uninjured losses is Tuesday, December 1.
Survivors can register with FEMA:
- By visiting DisasterAssistance.gov
- Downloading the FEMA App for smartphones
- Calling 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY). Multilingual operators are available.
December 1 also is the deadline for homeowners and renters, businesses of all sizes, and nonprofit organizations to apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans for physical property damage. The deadline for working capital applications for small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations is July 2, 2021.
For additional information about SBA disaster loans, the loan application process, or for help completing the SBA application, visit SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email FOCE-Help@sba.gov to make an appointment for assistance over the phone. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 800-877-8339.
For in-person assistance with an SBA disaster loan, visit the Business Recovery Centers, open 7 days a week, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., at East Pensacola Heights Clubhouse, 3208 E. Gonzalez Street, Pensacola.
Ascend Cares Helps Feed Escambia County Homeless
November 27, 2020
A group from Ascend Performance Materials in Cantonment stepped up to feed the homeless this week.
The Ascend Cares group cooked and served warm bowls of taco soup at the Alfred Washburn Center, an Escambia County homeless shelter. Volunteers also prepared 200 to-go bags with a sandwich, drink, chips and snacks for each person.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Drivers Getting A Road Construction Break Until Monday
November 27, 2020
Drivers are getting a little break from road construction in Florida during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, there will be no lane closures on state roads from 7 a.m. Wednesday thought 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. The lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
Pictured: Recent road construction activities on Nine Mile Road just west of Pine Forest Road. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rain Chance Through Sunday Night, Then Winter Like Temps Arrive
November 27, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. East wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 62. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 70. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Low around 58. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 49.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
‘Part Yield, Part Merge, Part Merry-Go-Round’ – Roundabout Opens In Escambia County
November 27, 2020
A roundabout in Escambia County opened Wednesday at Langley Drive and Hilltop Drive in Pensacola.
“If you’ve never cruised the boulevards of Rome, Berlin, or Oxford, Mississippi, a roundabout can be intimidating at first. Think of it as part yield, part merge, and part merry-go-round,” the Pensacola Police Department said in a Facebook post.
“Before you get too worked up about this new-fangled thing foisted upon us by the Europeans, let’s see if it solves some of the speeding and crash problems on Langley. We’ll all be wearing berets and sipping tiny coffees in no time,” the post continued.
