WEATHER

Heat advisory is now in effect for Thursday across Okaloosa County

A long-duration heat wave is expected to continue through this week as a heat advisory is now in effect for Thursday across portions of southwest Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle.

• According to Okaloosa Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox, an excessive heat watch has been issued for parts of the area on Friday.

Excessive heat with heat indices of 108 to 112 are expected in the advisory area, with 113 to 116 in the warning area on Thursday.

Maddox says that this is expected each afternoon into the weekend, with the highest heat indices being confined to coastal areas and west of the Tombigbee River, spreading eastward by the end of the week.

“There is a chance that some drier air may result in heat index values being a bit lower today, but we have opted to keep the current Excessive Heat Warning and Heat Advisory in effect for now due to the uncertainty,” said Maddox on Thursday morning.  “An Excessive Heat Watch remains in effect for Friday.”

THINGS TO DO

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge announces Camp CROW Summer Camp schedule for July

The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge has announced the dates for their children’s Camp CROW Summer Camp, a program dedicated to providing children with an exciting and educational wildlife experience.

• Taking place throughout the month of July, this camp promises to engage young minds in a range of interactive activities and foster a love for nature and wildlife conservation.

The Camp CROW Summer Camp offers a unique opportunity for children ages 8-10 from July 17th -21st and children ages 11-13 the week of July 24th-28th to explore the wonders of the natural world. This camp combines education, adventure, and fun to create an unforgettable summer wildlife experience.

Campers will have the chance to immerse themselves in nature and learn about the diverse wildlife species that call the Emerald Coast their home. Led by a team of experienced and passionate wildlife educators, the program will include a variety of hands-on activities, interactive animal ambassador presentations, and engaging workshops.

Throughout their camp day, campers will participate in exciting adventures such as arts & crafts, wildlife encounters, and exploration of the refuge’s habitats. They will also learn about animal behavior, conservation efforts, coexistence, environmental impact and the importance of protecting our environment.

• From observing birds in their natural habitats to discovering marine life of the coastal ecosystems, every day will bring a new adventure.

“We are thrilled to once again present our Camp Crow Summer Camp and provide children with an opportunity to connect with nature in a meaningful way,” said Pascal Robin, Executive Director of the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. “Our dedicated team of educators and staff are committed to delivering a fun-filled, educational experience that will ignite a passion for wildlife conservation in the hearts of our young participants.”

Campers will not only gain knowledge and appreciation for the natural world but will also develop important life skills. The program will foster teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving through group activities and interactive games. By engaging in hands-on experiences, children will build confidence, resilience, and a sense of environmental stewardship.

Inspired by camp last year, each day of camp has a special theme to highlight specific ambassadors and functions of ECWR. The Children’s Camp Crow Summer Camp will run from July 17th to July 28th, with both full-week and single day options available to suit different schedules.

• Enrollment is now open, and interested parents and guardians are encouraged to register their children early due to limited availability.

For more information and to register for the Camp Crow Summer Camp, please visit or contact the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge at 850-684-1485 or director@emeraldcoastwildliferefuge.org.

COASTAL RESOURCES

5 rehabilitated sea turtles released back into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday

On Tuesday, June 28, 2023, the Gulfarium’s C.A.R.E. Center successfully released five rehabilitated sea turtles back into the Gulf of Mexico at Inlet Beach.

The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center continues to be busy with turtle patients this summer. Tuesday’s release included four Loggerheads and one Kemps ridley. Several C.A.R.E Center staff team members and their volunteers, as well as many dedicated onlookers, joined the release.

• “Pear”, a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle weighing in at 108lbs, was accidentally hooked at the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier on June 23rd. After a mild sedation, two fishing hooks were removed from Pear’s mouth and esophagus, giving Pear a clean bill of health and clearance for release.

• “Grilled Cheese”, also a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle weighing in at only 65lbs., was accidentally foul hooked at Okaloosa Island Fishing pier on June 24th with a sabiki and a J-hook in the right front flipper. Both hooks were easily removed and Grilled Cheese was ready to go home.

• “Big Bertha”, an adult female loggerhead weighing in at a whopping 185lbs, was accidentally hooked by a shark fisherman on May 21. Bertha had the large shark fishing hook in her esophagus as well as a small J-hook attached to a metal leader line, according to the CARE Center. In addition, Bertha had entanglement wounds on both front flippers due to previous fishing line entanglement. Bertha’s hooks were removed non-surgically and she continued to receive antibiotics to treat her flipper wounds. After one month of rest and recovery Bertha was cleared for release.

• “Apricot”, a sub-adult loggerhead, and “Rosa”, and adult female Kemps ridley, joined the release last minute after quick hook removals and health assessments at the C.A.R.E. Center.

“We continue to see many foul-hooked turtles come in to the CARE Center this season,” states Tabitha Siegfried, Gulfarium’s Stranding Coordinator. “These turtles are otherwise healthy, so being able to turn them around so quickly is exhausting but definitely rewarding. We are very grateful for our volunteers to help us care for these turtles.”

If you see a sea turtle in distress, injured, or deceased please report it to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission immediately at 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922). 

TRAFFIC

Your input is needed on the Okaloosa-Walton 2023 Transportation Priorities

To ensure transportation needs are being met, the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) reviews the transportation priorities for the urbanized areas of Okaloosa County and Walton County.

• Prioritizing these projects maximizes available resources on an annual basis when determining how to meet the greatest needs of the region.

• You can view a detailed list of the Project Priorities and interactive map here.

These priorities are submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation for potential funding in the next five years. Projects are selected for funding based upon local priority, funding availability, and project timing. There are several categories of funding for transportation projects and each category must be prioritized.

• To ensure that the transportation needs are being met, they need your input!

The public comment period for the Okaloosa-Walton TPO Project Priorities is now open through August 4th. Take their survey and ensure your voice is heard. You can find the online survey at www.ecrc.org/OWPrioritiesSurvey.

Topics include:

• Bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
• 12-foot multi-use bike path on Okaloosa Island.
• Widening Highway 98 from the Brooks Bridge to the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
• And more!

PUBLIC SAFETY

Destin Beach Safety conducted 54 rescues in 12 days so far in June

On Wednesday, June 28, 2023, Destin Beach Safety released their official statistics for rescues or aid that took place between the dates of June 14th – June 25th.

• Attendance: 207,775
• Minor 1st Aid : 33
• Major 1st Aid: 22
• Public Contact: 118,550
• Preventative Actions: 84,980
• Missing People: 7
• Persons Rescued: 48
• Assists: 24
• PWC Infractions: 19

According to Destin Beach Safety, there were no drownings in Destin during this time. The flag colors between June 14th – June 25th were either Single Red or Double Red due to large surf and life-threatening rip currents. Double Red Flag signifies that it is unlawful to enter the Gulf of Mexico.

Destin Beach Safety also released the official statistics for Tuesday, June 27, 2023, which is the day of the drowning of Ryan Mallett.

• Attendance: 18,950
• Minor 1st Aid: 4
• Major 1st Aid: 1
• Public Contacts: 7,650
• Preventative Actions: 1,775
• Missing People: 0
• Persons Rescued: 6
• Assists: 0
• PWC Infractions: 0

Even the strongest swimmer can get into trouble swimming in open water. Here are some tips from the Okaloosa Health Department for swimming at the beach: 

• Stay alert to and obey the current safety flags:
  • Double Red Flag: Very high hazard and water is closed to the public. 
  • Single Red Flag: High hazard with high surf and strong currents. 
  • Single Yellow Flag: Medium hazard with moderate surf and/or strong currents. 
  • Single Green Flag: Low hazard with calm conditions, but caution still advised. 
  • Single Purple Flag: Dangerous marine life. 
     
• Stay alert to rip tides and strong currents. If you get caught in a rip tide or strong current, don’t fight it. Swim parallel to the shore until you have passed through it. Learn to recognize and watch for dangerous waves and signs of rip tides — darker, narrow gaps of water heading offshore between areas of breaking waves and whitewater. 
• Don’t swim alone. Even if you are a good swimmer, you never know when you might need help. 

PUBLIC SAFETY

OCSO: No indication of rip currents in the drowning of Ryan Mallett in Destin

Following the tragic drowning of former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett on Tuesday, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office investigators are continuing to gather information on the incident.

• Investigators say that Mallett began struggling while attempting to swim to a second sandbar about 150 feet offshore of the beach near Gulf Shores Drive in Destin around 2:15 p.m.

According to Destin Beach Safety, they received a call for a swimmer in distress. A beach attendant called 911, reporting six individuals struggling to make it back to shore. Destin Beach Safety quickly arrived on scene, where they were informed that one of the swimmers had submerged and failed to resurface.

“Two lifeguards promptly entered the water to assist the swimmers and recover the submerged individual,” they wrote. “An additional lifeguard entered to help locate and rescue the submerged swimmer.”

In post on Facebook, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office addressed what they referred to as “widespread media misinformation” surrounding the conditions of the Gulf of Mexico on the day of Mallett’s death.

The OCSO and Destin Fire Control District reports that yellow beach safety flags were flying at the time and there were no indications of any “riptides”.

“It’s always difficult when we lose a tourist or a resident here,” said Sheriff Eric Aden in a video. “We have no indication of any dangerous conditions out there. The entire Okaloosa County, as well as Destin, were not under red flags or double red flags despite some of the misperceptions out there.”

• “We were under a yellow flag, which is a just swim with caution,” he continued. “It just seems to be just a tragic accident and not something to do with the conditions of the surf or tides.”

Sheriff Eric Aden added that the entire agency and the community at large are saddened by the tragedy.