Hello, Friends —
Hurricane Ian continues to move towards the eastern Gulf of Mexico and is expected to develop into a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall in Florida this week. Over the weekend, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for all of Florida and activated 2,500 members of the Florida National Guard.
We expect heavy rain, strong winds, flash floods, and storm surges in Northwest Florida regardless of where Ian makes landfall. While conditions may change in the meantime, one thing remains: be prepared for storm surges in Northwest Florida.
My staff and I are continuing to monitor Hurricane Ian closely. Please contact my office at 850-479-1183 or visit my website for additional contacts, information, and preparedness tips. Please stay safe!
Click Here for FEMA's Advisory on Hurricane Ian
PREPARING FOR HURRICANE IAN
As we continue to actively track the path of Hurricane Ian, here are some tips to safely prepare for its potential impact:
Prepare a kit. Ensure you and your family have a disaster kit ready to go in case of an emergency. For more information on items to include in a kit, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes for preparedness tips.
Get to know your surroundings. Know the elevation of your house and property. Hurricanes often bring storm surge, which is considered the greatest threat to property and life during any tropical storm. Know your communities’ evacuation routes and how you would evacuate to higher ground. For more information on potential storm surge areas visit NOAA’s storm surge site.
Consistently check the weather. The Coast Guard's mobile app for boating safety is a tool to check marine weather from your phone. With the mobile app, you can check the weather at nearby NOAA buoys, which provide wind speed and direction along with wave height. Checking weather any time you plan to get underway and throughout your time on the water is highly recommended.
Secure your boats. Review your hurricane plan with your local marina, ensure you have a plan to both bring your boat in and strap it down ashore or ensure it is properly equipped to ride out the storm at the marina.
Listen to local officials. When it comes to hurricane response and preparedness, the most important link in the chain is you: prepare your boat for the season, have a hurricane mooring plan, and monitor channel 16 on your VHF radio when on the water. Prior to planning a trip, keep an eye on the weather, port conditions, and other hurricane warnings.
For further questions, please consult the Emergency Management Websites for the county you reside in:
RESOURCES AND CONTACT INFORMATION
The following are websites and contact information for various federal and state agencies:
Escambia County:
Holmes County:
Okaloosa County:
Santa Rosa County:
Walton County:
Traffic and road information:
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