What is happening in Okaloosa County and along the Emerald Coast. Every story is briefed in our own words, with links to everyone who reported it.
City officials cautioned residents Sunday to avoid multiple downed power lines scattered across Fort Walton Beach, some tangled with fallen trees and others hanging from poles. Residents were instructed to assume all wires are live and report hazards to Florida Power & Light.
Direct from the source
Residents and visitors can return to Okaloosa Island and coastal areas of Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Niceville now that the county has lifted its evacuation orders. Watch for downed power lines and debris on the way in.
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Water and sewer service is back on Okaloosa Island, Okaloosa County said Sunday morning. The system is still strained and some critical sites are damaged, so the county is asking all customers to keep conserving water.
Sen. Rick Scott and Congressman Jimmy Patronis held a press conference Sunday to discuss recovery efforts following storm damage in Destin. Okaloosa County lifted its evacuation order at noon, while insurance assistance and supply distribution became available to residents.
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County crews begin the first of two storm debris pickups on Wednesday, Oct. 14, for residents outside city limits. Put debris at the curb loose and unbagged, and keep it clear of hydrants, mailboxes and meters.
VPS reopened Saturday evening after closing ahead of Hurricane Isaias. Flight schedules have changed, so check with your airline before you head to the airport.
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Power outages have left many county drinking water wells running on generators, so Okaloosa County is asking customers to use only the water they need. Water and sewer service on Okaloosa Island was still off as of Saturday morning.
Hurricane Isaias left widespread damage across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, with Escambia River Electric Cooperative reporting destruction far exceeding expectations. The utility said extensive debris clearing, pole replacement, and system rebuilding will be required before power restoration can begin, with additional crews from neighboring cooperatives assisting in the effort.
Rising river levels have already made County Road 393 impassable at both the Shoal River Bridge and Pond Creek Bridge in Okaloosa County. Authorities are urging motorists to avoid the affected crossings and use alternate routes as conditions are expected to worsen.
Global Empowerment Mission sent volunteers and supplies to Pensacola following Hurricane Isaias, with emergency response teams arriving Friday to assess damage and prepare aid distribution. The organization is also providing emergency cash cards to help families recover from the storm.
Hurricane Isaias made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane near Destin and Fort Walton Beach, tearing roofs from buildings in Niceville, Milton and Fort Walton Beach while causing widespread flooding. The storm brought destructive winds that damaged residential and commercial properties across the region.
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew following Hurricane Isaias's landfall, which left most of the county without power and disabled most traffic signals. The sheriff cited concerns about looting and dangerous intersections as reasons for the emergency order.
Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin as a Category 2 storm Friday and tore roofs from buildings across the Florida Panhandle and Alabama before weakening. Four deaths were attributed to the storm, including two from falling trees, while nearly 700,000 customers lost power and forecasters warned of flash flooding risks extending into the southern Appalachians.
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The city has hired DRC Emergency Services to collect storm debris from Hurricane Isaias, with crews starting work mid-week and making multiple passes over two to three weeks. Residents should pile vegetative and wood debris separately at the curb away from hydrants and utilities, loose and unbagged, with no payment required from workers.
Hurricane Isaias battered Okaloosa County with winds exceeding 100 mph, ripping signage from businesses and snapping tree limbs across the region. HarborWalk Village in Destin sustained visible damage, with debris piled near the boardwalk entrance.
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Fort Walton Beach has shut down all city parks and municipal facilities through at least Monday following widespread damage from downed trees and power lines. The city said conditions remain unsafe and is not accepting volunteer assistance at this time.
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has issued a precautionary boil water notice for all customers following Hurricane Isaias's impact on the region. Residents must boil tap water for at least one minute before drinking, cooking, or food preparation, or use commercially bottled water until the utility confirms the water is safe.
A tractor-trailer towing another commercial vehicle overturned Friday morning near Pine Forest Road, shutting down both westbound through lanes during heavy hurricane-preparation traffic. The 52-year-old driver from New York lost control while navigating a construction zone and sustained minor injuries. Emergency crews cleared the wreckage to reopen the interstate corridor.
Hurricane Isaias struck near Destin as a Category 2 storm Friday evening, leaving Santa Rosa County with widespread damage including downed trees, damaged homes and collapsed structures. Emergency crews cannot yet reach callers reporting damage, but plan to begin recovery operations after sunrise once conditions allow safe access to affected areas.
Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin as a Category 2 storm with 105-mph winds, leaving more than 250,000 Florida Power and Light customers without electricity across Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Wind gusts exceeded 100 mph in some areas as the storm moved ashore Tuesday evening.
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Okaloosa County will open its first Point of Distribution for residents at 10 a.m. Saturday, handing out bottled water, tarps and Meals Ready to Eat. The location will be announced after the storm passes, once the county knows the site is safe to reach.
Sheriff Eric Aden provided an assessment of conditions in Okaloosa County following Hurricane Isaias. The update comes as the storm continues to impact the region with downed trees, power outages and other damage across multiple counties.
Eglin Air Force Base commander declared Hurricane Condition 1E on Wednesday evening as sustained winds reached at least 58 mph, requiring all personnel to shelter in place and restricting outdoor movement. All base gates closed except for exit-only use at the medical facility, with operations to resume once the installation commander determines conditions are safe.
Traffic on Interstate 10 eastbound came to a halt Friday afternoon after a truck crash near mile marker 54 in Crestview. The incident blocked the roadway, though authorities had not released additional details by late afternoon.
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At 4 p.m. Friday, Hurricane Isaias had turned north and was 90 miles south of Pensacola with 115 mph winds, a Category 3. The National Hurricane Center now puts landfall near the Pensacola area this evening, and the National Weather Service in Mobile has raised the wind forecast for Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Eglin to Category 3 force, with gusts to 140 mph.
The city has enacted a mandatory ban on non-essential water use as Hurricane Isaias approaches, citing potential threats to water infrastructure from flooding, power failures and storm damage. Officials say the measure will preserve supplies needed for public health, safety and firefighting.
Navarre Beach Fire Rescue will evacuate and close Fire Station 49 starting Friday afternoon, relocating personnel and equipment off-island to protect them from storm surge. Emergency response across the island will cease once winds reach 39 mph or saltwater breaches Gulf Boulevard, leaving residents without fire and medical services until after the storm passes.
Hurricane Isaias brought significant destruction to Destin, damaging properties along Calhoun Avenue and the local marina. Recovery efforts were underway as residents and business owners, including fishing captains and marina operators, began cleanup and assessment following the storm.
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Tropical storm conditions are beginning along the northern Gulf Coast as Hurricane Isaias, still a Category 3 with 120 mph winds, moves to within 145 miles of Pensacola. A Tornado Watch is now in effect, and the National Hurricane Center says preparations should be finished in the next couple of hours, ahead of landfall this evening.
Hurricane Isaias strengthened to a Category 3 with 120 mph winds and drifted slightly east toward the Western Florida Panhandle, where the National Hurricane Center now expects landfall this evening. The ational Weather Service in Mobile raised its wind forecast for Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Eglin to sustained 90 to 110 mph with gusts to 135 mph, and says to plan for Category 3 force or higher.
Okaloosa County Water & Sewer will begin shutting off drinking water mains and sewage lift stations on Okaloosa Island at 12 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. The county says the move protects the system from a forecast 7 to 9 foot storm surge and will speed restoration after the storm.
Santa Rosa County has ordered residents in Zones A, B, and C to leave their homes ahead of an approaching storm, though officials said they cannot compel evacuation. The county warned that emergency responders may be unable to reach people who remain in affected areas once dangerous conditions arrive.
The National Hurricane Center raised its storm surge forecast to 6 to 9 feet from the Alabama line to Grayton Beach, which covers all of Okaloosa’s coast. At 7 a.m. Friday, Hurricane Isaias was 245 miles south of Pensacola with 110 mph winds and on the edge of major hurricane strength, and the National Weather Service in Mobile says hurricane-force winds could reach Destin and Fort Walton Beach by early this afternoon.
At 1 a.m. Friday, Hurricane Isaias was 230 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River, moving north-northeast at 14 mph. Okaloosa is under a Hurricane Warning and a Storm Surge Warning, with landfall expected somewhere in the warning area Friday night or early Saturday. Story: as drafted above.
Headlines and briefings are written by Emerald Coast Connected. Full articles remain with the publishers linked under each story.