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Jackson County Braces for Ida’s Rains
11/09/09 - 05:22 PM

Jackson County Floridan

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What was a hurricane, but is now coming ashore as a tropical storm, Ida has weather watchers on alert, despite weakening as it encountered cooler water in the Gulf of Mexico.

Ida is expected to dump three to six inches of rain here by the end of today, according to Jackson County Emergency Management Director Rodney Andreasen.

He said heavy rain and subsequent flooding will likely be the worst problem associated with the storm.

He is expected to ask the Jackson County Commission to declare a state of emergency when it meets in regular session Tuesday. Doing so will allow the county to seek reimbursement for any expenses it incurs as a result of the storm, Andreasen said.

Gov. Charlie Crist has already issued a statewide emergency declaration for all 67 counties in Florida, but the local declaration is also necessary to recover storm-related expenditures.

Road and Bridge Superintendent Al Green and crews were busy Monday preparing for the rain.

“We’ve got barricades loaded and ready, and we’re getting all our vehicles fueled up and topped off tonight,” Green said Monday. “We’ve got a supervisor on call. We’re as prepared as we can be for this. Since the last big rains of March and April, we’ve done a lot of road upgrades. We hoped to try to prevent things from being as bad as they were before. Of course, dirt roads are dirt roads, so you’re going to have some issues in heavy rain, but we’re doing our best to make the impact minimal.”

Motorists are advised to stay off the roads as the storm surges in, because heavy rain and flash flooding could make driving conditions hazardous. Do not attempt to cross standing bodies of water.

Residents are also urged to secure outdoor lawn furniture and other objects to keep them from blowing into the road and creating a hazard in the event of gusting winds.

It may also be prudent to keep pets indoors during the storm.

As of late Monday, Jackson County schools were set to be open as usual Tuesday, but parents were given the option of keeping their children home at their discretion. Students will be excused with a note from their parent if they do stay out today.

The school system has a weather line that can be accessed to check for any changes. Call 482-1200, then push 333.

In anticipation of the storm, the state plans to make November food stamp benefits available earlier than normal to program participants.

The Florida Department of Children and Families issued a press release on the plan Monday, saying “the measure is intended to ensure that storm-impacted residents have an adequate food supply during the post-storm period.”

The advance distribution applies to Jackson, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, Holmes,  Washington, Calhoun, Bay, Gulf, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Wakulla, Liberty and Franklin counties.

Benefits are normally available on a staggered schedule from the first to the 15th of each month. The change allows about 30,000 households to use their benefits earlier than normal, DCF noted in the news release. Families should be able to access their benefits using their Electronic Benefit Transfer card as early as Tuesday morning.

And, the 14th Judicial Circuit Court stated courts in Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties will remain open Tuesday, unless the storm situation changes.