Winter weather update #4Road Conditions- IMPASSABLE

Road Conditions- IMPASSABLE

Temperatures will drop well below freezing this evening and black ice will be more prevalent on roadways tonight into tomorrow morning. All roads and bridges in Santa Rosa County should be considered IMPASSABLE Wednesday evening into Thursday, Jan. 23 . Members of the general public are advised to suspend or delay all travel.

Only essential personnel and emergency vehicles should travel on county roads and bridges.

Check out FL511 for more information!

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 4 p.m.

Weather update from the National Weather Service in Mobile:

• Temperature lows are expected to drop well into the 20s with wind chills well into the 10s at night through Thursday morning. Air temperatures below 30 degrees will also result in damage to sensitive crops.
• Residents are encouraged to stay home and off the roadways Wednesday into Thursday morning as snow and ice are expected to create hazardous driving conditions.
• Mostly clear skies on Wednesday have helped to melt some of the snow/ice on area roadways, but there is a lot of residual moisture that will refreeze Wednesday evening, creating hazardous driving conditions Wednesday night into Thursday morning, Jan. 23.
• Temperatures are expected to be above freezing the majority of the day Thursday, Jan. 23 allowing for more thawing of ice. Additional Santa Rosa County public works crews will be deployed to ensure road safety for travel on Thursday, Jan. 23.

County Offices

• County offices and facilities, including Jay Transfer Station, animal services, veterans services, extension services and all county libraries will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 23 .
• The Central Landfill will be closed to the public and open to commercial haulers ONLY from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23 open Friday, Jan. 24, if conditions permit.
• The Regular Commission meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23 is rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 3 at 8:30 a.m.
• The Zoning Board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23 has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 6 at 5 p.m.
• Emergency Management is activated to a Level 2 Modified (emergency management staff only).
• Santa Rosa County Emergency Management has declared a Local State of Emergency, view online here .
• Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a State of Emergency with Executive Order 25-13 (Emergency Management - Gulf Winter Weather System), view online here .

Other office closures

• The Santa Rosa County Courthouse and Clerk of Court offices will remain closed through Thursday, Jan. 23. A decision regarding opening on Friday, Jan. 24 will be made on Thursday, Jan. 23.
• The Navarre Beach Pier will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 22 and Thursday, Jan. 23 .
• The following offices will closed on Wednesday, Jan. 22 and Thursday, Jan. 23 :
• Santa Rosa County Clerk of Courts
• Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser
• Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections
• Santa Rosa County Tax Collector
• All City of Gulf Breeze offices will be closed Wednesday, Jan. 22 and Thursday, Jan. 23. A decision on Friday closures will be made as conditions evolve early Thursday. The city continues to operate a limited Emergency Operations Center, including Gulf Breeze Emergency Services.
• All Town of Jay offices will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 22 and Thursday, Jan. 23 . Offices are expected to be open on Friday, Jan. 24, updates will be provided as they are available.

City of Milton

• All City of Milton offices will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 23. and expect to open for normal operating hours on Friday, Jan. 24. This temporary closure is due to ongoing weather-related conditions. The city urges residents to stay home and remain off the roads as travel has been deemed unsafe.
• As of Wednesday, Jan. 22, the bridges at Broad Street and Conecuh Street will remain closed. A reevaluation of the closures will occur on Friday morning.

Early Voting

• Due to the winter weather, the Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections office will be closed Wednesday, Jan. 22 and Thursday, Jan. 23 . All Early Voting sites will be CLOSED on Wednesday, Jan. 22 and Thursday, Jan. 23 , 2025 .

Santa Rosa County District Schools

• School and after-school activities for Thursday, Jan. 23 and Friday, Jan. 24 have been cancelled.
• Updates can be found on the school district website at www.santarosaschools.org/en-US .

Roads

Bridges

• I-10 remians closed.
• Chappie James (3-mile) bridge is open, travel with EXTREME caution.
• As of Wednesday, Jan. 22, the bridges at Broad Street and Conecuh Street will remain closed. A reevaluation of the closures will occur on Friday morning.
• Florida Highway Patrol and local law enforcement close bridges if conditions deteriorate and it's hazardous for motorists. Not all bridges will close or close at the same time. Updates will be sent if any bridges are closed
• State road and bridge closures may be monitored at FL511.com . This includes, but is not limited to, the following bridges in Santa Rosa County: Hwy. 90 over Simpson River/Escambia Bay and over Blackwater River, Hwy. 87 south over Yellow River, the interstate bridges and Garcon Point Bridge.

Shelters

• The cold weather shelter for the homeless and/or heatless at Ferris Hill Baptist Church , 6848 Chaffin St. in Milton, will be open 24 hours from Wednesday, Jan. 22 until 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26.
• No one will be admitted after 8:30 p.m. each night unless brought in by law enforcement. Only service animals (with verification of rabies vaccination) are permitted to stay with guests.
• Volunteers are needed starting today through Sunday, Jan. 26. Shifts are in two-hour increments and there will always be at least two volunteers present at all times. To see available shifts and to sign up to volunteer, visit https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0F44A5AC2DA1FDC16-54474634-cold .
• An update will be provided if any additional shelters open.

Residents are urged to be prepared for extreme cold:

• Have enough food, water, and medication per person in your home for at least 3 days
• Have warm clothes and blankets easily accessible
• Have an updated first aid kit
• Charge all electronics
• Stay informed using wireless Emergency Alerts
• Limit your time outdoors to prevent hypothermia and frostbite
• Drive safely by being aware of icy or snowy road conditions
• Dress warm (2-3 layers) and dry (waterproof jackets are recommended)

5 P's of Cold Weather Safety:

• Protect People: Remember to dress in layers and wear a hat and gloves. It is important to try to stay out of the wind and to stay dry. Also, remember to check on young children and elderly family and neighbors who are the most sensitive to cold weather. If the temperature cannot be maintained at a home, make temporary arrangements to stay elsewhere, including with friends and family.
• Protect Pets : If cold weather is in the forecast, be sure to bring outdoor pets inside or give them a warm shelter to stay in.
• Protect Exposed Pipes: Cover pipes and outdoor faucets. On occasion, outdoor faucets may need to be allowed to slowly drip to prevent freezing and breaking.
• Protect Plants : Cover cold-sensitive plants to protect them from dangerous temperatures or bring potted plants inside.
• Practice Fire Safety : Use safe heating sources indoors. Do not use fuel-burning devices such as grills; they release carbon monoxide, which is a deadly gas. Also, make sure to use space heaters according to their instructions and be attentive to open flames.

For current weather events, visit www.weather.gov/mob . For information on preparing for disasters, visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency . Follow Santa Rosa County Emergency Management on Facebook for weather updates.

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www.santarosa.fl.gov

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