Severe Weather Updates
Last Updated: 08/16/09 - 08:11 PM

WMBB News Department

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BAY COUNTY
The EOC (Emergency Operations Center) closes Deane Bozeman School as a shelter. It had been prepared this afternoon, but due to zero population, was closed by 8 p.m.
Due to the weather forecast and projections for the forthcoming tropical depression and the possibility of flooding during the late evening, there will be a delay to the start of the work day for all Bay District Schools employees who are scheduled to work on Monday.  ALL EMPLOYEES SCHEDULED TO WORK ON Monday SHOULD REPORT BY 11 A.M.  The work day will end at the regularly scheduled time.
Exceptions will be principals, assistant principals, administrative assistants, custodians, and maintenance workers who should all report to work at the regularly scheduled start time to assess any damages unless conditions do not allow.

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STATE PARK CLOSURES
Due to tropical storm Claudette, the Florida Park Service is taking steps to ensure the safety of guests at several campgrounds in the path of the storm.

In compliance with the Florida Park Service Emergency Action Plans, St. Andrews State Park, St. Joseph Peninsula State Park and St. George Island State Park are closing their campgrounds and evacuating all overnight visitors. The decision to close the campgrounds of these coastal parks was made after tropical storm warnings were issued in the region.

Overnight use of these parks will remain closed until further notice.

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WASHINGTON COUNTY
UPDATE: The Washington County Board of County Commissioners met in Special Session today, August 16, 2009 at 3PM. The Board was briefed on the most current information on Tropical Storm Claudette and based on the potential threat declared a Local State of Emergency beginning at 3PM today.

Previous updates:
The Washington County Board of County Commissioners will be meeting in Special Session today, August 16, 2009, at 3PM.  The Emergency Management Staff will be requesting the Board declare a Local State of Emergency based on information provided by the National Weather Service in Tallahassee regarding Tropical Storm Claudette.

The Washington County Emergency Management Office and the Board of County Commissioners urge all residents to monitor local media outlets for information regarding the storm.

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Washington County’s EOC went to Level 2 Activation at 9AM this morning and continues to monitor the storm’s track and intensity.

Current projections have the depression increasing in strength and becoming Tropical Storm “Claudette” within the next couple of hours making landfall between Destin and Panama City Beach sometime this evening with maximum sustained winds of 50mph.

Rain amounts from 3 – 5 inches are anticipated with up to 10” in some areas. Tornadoes on the East and Northeast side of the system are possible. Small tropical cyclones such as TD#4 are prone to rapid intensity fluctuations.

The main threat from the storm is heavy downpours and isolated tornadoes today and tonight in the Florida panhandle.

Conference Calls were conducted with the State Emergency Operations Center at 10:15AM and another will take place with the National Weather Service at 11AM.

Lynne Jordan, EM Coordinator, spoke with Mr. Bob Pearce of the Central Panhandle Chpt. of the Red Cross and has advised him that Washington County has no plan to open shelters.

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WALTON COUNTY
Today, the National Weather Service and the Florida Emergency Operation’s Center held a telephone conference with the county EOC directors statewide concerning the latest information on Tropical Storm Claudette, currently south-southeast of Apalachicola.

The system is moving at a fast clip around 14 miles-per-hour, and is expected to make landfall late tonight, or early Monday morning.  At this time, it’s believed the heaviest rainfall will be from Cape San Blas in Gulf County moving eastward into the Big Bend region.  It could bring 10 or more inches of precipitation where it moves on shore, other areas along the Gulf Coast could see a storm surge of 3-to-5 feet.

Walton County’s EOC Director, Captain Mike Barker, expects the system to bring heavy rainfall to the Western Panhandle.  At this time, the EOC is at partial activation with partial staff in place.  The county’s EOC Office is under the direction of Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson, Jr.

Captain Barker would like to remind motorists that the Clyde B. Wells Bridge on Highway 331 is open to traffic.  The bridge would close if sustained winds reach at least 40 miles per hour. 

Captain Barker says “the weather system will bring additional rainfall, and higher surf may create some beach erosion, but he hopes that it’ll not cause any major problems for the residents here”.  Captain Barker says this is a good time to remind residents to be aware of possibly changing weather conditions for later this week.

There’s Tropical Storm Ana nearing the Leeward Islands with winds of around 40 miles per hour, and Tropical Storm Bill gained strength in the open Atlantic with winds of around 60 miles per hour.  Tropical Storm Bill could be named a hurricane by tomorrow.  Officials remind the public it’s never too early to prepare for a hurricane.

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Previous updates
The Walton County EOC is at a partial activation level in preparation for Tropical Depression 4’s landfall in the Panhandle Sunday.

Capt. Barker tells News 13 they now at level 2 activation.  They are watching the storm and have brought in some key people.

Barker says they are also keeping a close eye on Tropical Storms Ana and Tropical Storm Bill.

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JACKSON COUNTY
Jackson County Emergency Management Director Rodney Andreason says his staff has a conference call scheduled with the National Weather Service at 5 p.m.

There are no plans at this time to activate the Emergency Operation Center, but Andreason said that residents in low lying areas should take precautions and that his staff is monitoring the situation with roads in the county that traditionally flood with large rain events.

News 13 will bring you more information when it becomes available.

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GULF COUNTY
A mandatory evacuation is being issued for the St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.

According to Gulf County Emergency Management Director Marshall Nelson, the EOC has been staffed in Gulf County and all key players ... department heads, emergency responders and law enforcement have been briefed on Tropical Storm Claudette. Nelson said that a mandatory evacuation has been ordered for T.S. Stone State Park on Cape San Blas in Gulf County. Campers who were utilizing the park’s facilties are being evacuated.

News 13 is waiting for a news release with additional details from the Gulf County Emergency Operations Center.