Gulf Power says it may be weeks before power is restored to all customers affected by Hurricane Michael. However, crews have restored power to more than 40,000 Gulf Power customers with more than 4,400 storm personnel mobilized and working in the hardest hit areas. Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power spokesperson, said crews will be working 24 hours…… MORE
Yearly Archives: 2018
HURRICANE MICHAEL SCHOOL CLOSURES
In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, school districts and universities across the state of Florida are beginning to reopen, while others remained closed to assess and repair damage. In Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Washington and Jackson counties schools are closed until further notice. Holmes County schools are closed today. In Taylor and Wakulla Counties resume…… MORE
TYNDALL AFB HEAVILY DAMAGED
Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, suffered heavy damage after taking a direct hit from Hurricane Michael. All of the older buildings on the base, home to more than 3,500 airmen and workplace for more than 10,000 people, were leveled by the hurricane and even new buildings on the base sustained significant damage. Florida…… MORE
FLORIDA PROPERTY INSURANCE RATE FREEZE
Florida Governor Rick Scott has directed the state’s top insurance regulator to freeze any potential property-insurance rate increases for 90 days as homeowners and businesspeople deal with massive damage from Hurricane Michael. Scott also directed the Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier to rescind for 90 days all policy non-renewals or cancellations that had been issued in…… MORE
POWER OUTAGES
Gulf Power spokesperson Jeff Rogers said customers in the high impact areas could be without power for weeks. To assist in restoration efforts, more than 2,600 outside resources have been secured from at least 15 different states, as far north as Michigan and as far west as Oklahoma and Texas. Including Gulf Power’s 1,187 employees…… MORE
SCHOOLS REOPEN
The Escambia County School District and the Santa Rosa County School District will return to their normal schedules Thursday, and all district offices will return to their normal work hours. Escambia County School District Superintendent Malcom Thomas said the district realizes that the families of some students evacuated, and excusing those students’ absences will be…… MORE
HURRICANE MICHAEL PROPERTY DAMAGE
In Panama City, close to where Michael made landfall, the Country Inn Suites in Panama City, which was housing evacuees and media members was largely destroyed with the roof blown off and the lobby flooded. The Marianna Police Department reported that it had lost its roof. The local 911 system, which is handled by the…… MORE
HURRICANE MICHAEL
Kenneth Graham, director of the National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Michael had sustained winds near 155 mph, just 2 mph below Category 5 as it made landfall near Panama City yesterday. It was the most powerful hurricane to hit the Florida Panhandle since record-keeping began in the 19th century. So far, one death has been…… MORE
MISSING SWIMMER
The Navarre Press is reporting that a swimmer who went missing off Navarre Beach yesterday morning probably did not survive. Navarre Beach Fire Rescue Chief Danny Fureigh said witnesses saw the man – who was about 30 – enter the water around 9:30am, but he did not resurface and thE the search had turned into…… MORE
HURRICANE MICHAEL
At 400 AM CDT, the eye of Hurricane Michael is moving toward the north at 13 mph. A turn toward the north-northeast is expected this morning, with a turn toward the northeast this afternoon or tonight with an increase in forward speed. the eye of Michael is expected to move ashore over the Florida Panhandle later today, move…… MORE
