WEATHER

NWS confirms tornado touched down in Santa Rosa County, traveled 12 miles to Okaloosa

An EF2 tornado and severe straight line winds wreaked havoc across northern Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties in Florida on May 10, 2024, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Mobile, Alabama.

• The tornado, which reached estimated peak winds of 115 mph, touched down at 3:53 AM, 3 miles west-northwest of Munson in Santa Rosa County, and traveled 12.25 miles before lifting 3 miles west-southwest of Nubbin Ridge in Okaloosa County at 4:04 AM.

The tornado left a path of destruction, snapping numerous pine trees and downing power lines in a convergent pattern, according to NWS. It reached its maximum width of 450 yards over Munson, where it caused extensive damage. Fortunately, no fatalities or injuries were reported as a result of the tornado.

In addition to the tornado, large swaths of significant straight line wind damage were surveyed in northern Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Wind speeds were estimated to have reached between 100 and 110 mph along State Highway 87 between Allentown and Berrydale, where numerous wooden power lines were snapped, and metal roofing from a small barn was launched about 200 yards toward the road.

The NWS also reported that numerous trees were snapped in a swath from Jay, Florida, to rural locations along and south of State Highway 4 from Jay to Berrydale, with wind speeds estimated between 80 and 110 mph.

• In the community of Baker, several large hardwood trees were downed, and a large oak tree fell on a mobile home about 2.5 miles southeast of the town.

Further southeast, straight line wind damage was observed in Crestview, where an awning was stripped from a canopy over a gas station, and stucco was stripped from the side of a church.

The NWS emphasized that the information provided in their statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data.

WEATHER

DeSantis expands State of Emergency to include Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Escambia

Governor Ron DeSantis has issued Executive Order 24-95, declaring a state of emergency for Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Escambia counties in Northwest Florida following the severe weather that impacted the region on Friday, May 10, 2024.

• The executive order, which expands upon the previously issued Executive Order 24-94, now includes a total of 15 North Florida counties.

The severe weather event, which brought an intense thunderstorm, numerous tornadoes, and strong wind gusts to Northwest Florida, left thousands of residents in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Escambia counties without power. The widespread debris caused by the tornadoes, strong winds, and heavy rain further impacted the affected communities.

In response to the emergency, Governor DeSantis stated, “As the Governor of Florida, I am responsible to meet the dangers presented to the State of Florida and its people by this emergency.”

The state of emergency declaration allows the governor to allocate resources and support to Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Escambia counties, as well as the other 12 affected counties in North Florida, to aid in their recovery efforts following the severe weather event.

Executive Order 24-95, which amends and expands upon Executive Order 24-94, is effective immediately and shall expire upon the expiration of the initial executive order. The full text of the executive order can be found on the Governor’s website.

MILITARY

Thunderbirds to join Blue Angels for 2024 Homecoming Airshow at NAS Pensacola

The Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola is gearing up for an exceptional 2024 Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow, featuring not only the U.S. Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron (NFDS) The Blue Angels but also the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

• The event is scheduled to take place on Nov. 1 and 2.

NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Terry “Village” Shashaty expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming airshow, stating, “Having our military’s top flight demonstration teams perform at the ‘Cradle of Naval Aviation’ will undoubtedly be an experience you won’t want to miss!”

• He emphasized the significance of the Blue Angels and the Homecoming Airshow to Pensacola and the surrounding communities.

Capt. Shashaty further highlighted the event’s family-friendly nature, showcasing the capabilities and precision of both the Navy and Air Force teams, as well as civilian performers.

The Blue Angels, known for their awe-inspiring aerial maneuvers and precision flying, have long been a staple of the NAS Pensacola Homecoming Airshow. The addition of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, another renowned flight demonstration team, promises to make the 2024 event even more spectacular.

As the “Cradle of Naval Aviation,” NAS Pensacola has a rich history of hosting airshows and showcasing the skills of military aviators. The base serves as a training ground for naval aviators and is home to various aviation training programs.

TRAFFIC

FDOT to resurface 5-mile stretch of Eglin Parkway in Fort Walton Beach

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has announced plans for a resurfacing project on Eglin Parkway from U.S. 98 to Richbourg Avenue in Fort Walton Beach.

• The project, spanning five miles, is set to begin in late 2025 and is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

According to FDOT, the project aims to resurface all existing travel lanes, auxiliary lanes, median crossovers, and paved shoulders, including the Garniers Bayou and Cinco Bayou bridges. No additional right-of-way acquisition is required for this project.

In addition to the resurfacing work, the project will include improvements to the school zone to meet new school safety standards, upgrades to pedestrian features, enhancements to existing traffic signals, and minor drainage improvements.

• During the construction phase, lane closures will be permitted Monday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. to minimize disruption to daily traffic.

Residents with questions or concerns about the project are encouraged to contact FDOT Project Manager Howard Hodge, or submit comments using the pre-addressed comment form provided by FDOT.

Comments sent by mail must be postmarked no later than Monday, May 20, 2024, to be considered. The address is 1074 Hwy 90 E., Chipley, FL 32428-0607.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Okaloosa County Jail warns families about bond scam

The Okaloosa County Department of Corrections has issued a warning to families of inmates about a recent scam involving individuals posing as bail bondsmen.

According to the county, these scammers have been contacting family members of inmates housed within the Okaloosa County Jail and falsely claiming they can bond their loved ones out of jail in exchange for payment via gift card numbers or virtual payments such as Cash App or Venmo.

“Members of the public need to know that legitimate bail bond agents have statutorily imposed restrictions on solicitation,” wrote the County in a press release on Friday. “They are further required to provide their clients with a contract, a receipt, an advisement of terms, and contact information for their governing body for the purpose of making a complaint. Bonding agents will not reach out to families to notify them of an arrest.”

The County advises that if someone contacts a registered bonding agent, the agent will arrange to meet them in person, either at their office or the jail, to provide the required information and accept payment for their services.

• Defendants and indemnitors are required to sign all documents and receipts in person.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating these cases and urges members of the community who encounter such situations to immediately notify them on the non-emergency line at 850-651-7400.

COASTAL RESOURCES

More than 275 artificial reefs recently deployed off of Destin-Fort Walton Beach

In an effort to enhance marine habitats, Okaloosa County’s Tourism Development Department has successfully deployed more than 275 artificial reef structures off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

• The $1.26 million project, funded by the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, aims to create additional underwater habitats for marine life in the Gulf of Mexico.

The project, managed by the Coastal Resources Team of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, involved the deployment of 279 reef structures across 133 different sites.

• The reefs range in size from 6 to 25 feet and were placed at depths varying from 65 to 292 feet, making them some of the deepest modules ever deployed by the county.

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Coastal Resources Manager Alex Fogg expressed pride in the completion of this extensive project, stating, “Our area of the Gulf of Mexico is lacking in natural reef structures for marine life to thrive which is something we are working to change. Not only do artificial reefs create essential habitat for native species here in the Gulf, but they also provide ideal locations for fishermen and divers to visit.”

The project also featured the deployment of innovative 3D-printed modules in late February, which are the first of their kind in the Gulf of Mexico.

• The construction and deployment work was carried out by contractors Walter Marine and 1Print over six deployment days from February to early May.

“This is a great example of how we continue to work to be good stewards of the environment that we depend on for our fishing and tourism industries,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon, commending the impressive effort to enhance marine life habitats.

The project was fully funded by a grant from the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, administered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Coordinates for these and other reefs off Destin-Fort Walton Beach can be found on the county’s official website.