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Good morning!
Multi-Agency Resource Centers are opening in Fort Walton Beach and Crestview for Hurricane Isaias recovery, and FPL and CHELCO crews are working the final outages. Okaloosa County schools reopen Thursday now, and the Okaloosa Health Department shared water safety recommendations for beaches and pools. Plus, Eglin to close Highway 85, 285, SR 123 and SR 293 Thursday for test missions, and today’s weather outlook.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Power nearly restored in Okaloosa, Walton counties as FPL, CHELCO crews work final outages
Power restoration is nearly complete for Florida Power & Light and CHELCO customers in Okaloosa and Walton counties after Hurricane Isaias, according to the two utilities. As of early Wednesday morning, FPL’s outage tracker showed 56 customers without power in Okaloosa County and nine in Walton County.
CHELCO’s outage tracker showed 624 meters without power in Walton County, two in Okaloosa County and 107 in Holmes County.
CHELCO reached 99% restoration Tuesday night, with 740 members still affected by outages as of 10:30 p.m., the cooperative said.
FPL has restored power to more than 95% of customers affected by the storm, including those in the hardest-hit areas of Escambia (5,770 still out) and Santa Rosa (3,710 still out) counties, the company said in a release Tuesday night. More than 422,000 outages have been restored.
FPL President and CEO Scott Bores said customers could see new outages as trees weakened by the storm come down.
“In the days, weeks and months ahead, weakened trees and branches may fall and affect power lines,” Bores said. “FPL crews will continue identifying and making needed repairs to strengthen the system to pre-storm state, while addressing storm-related issues as they emerge.”
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SCHOOL
Okaloosa County schools to stay closed Wednesday, now reopening Thursday after Hurricane Isaias
All Okaloosa County School District schools and district facilities will remain closed Wednesday, Oct. 14, and school will resume Thursday, Oct. 15, the district announced Tuesday afternoon.
The district had announced Monday that classes would resume Wednesday.
The decision follows the district’s ongoing assessments and discussions with Commissioner of Education Henry Mack and the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis about recovery efforts and the needs of students, families and employees, according to the district’s 2:45 p.m. update.
The district said significant progress has been made, but many families and employees are still dealing with challenges caused by the storm.
“We want to extend grace and compassion to the many families and employees who are still experiencing challenges caused by the storm,” the district wrote.
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NEWS
Multi-Agency Resource Centers open in Fort Walton Beach and Crestview for Hurricane Isaias recovery
The Florida Division of Emergency Management, in collaboration with the Okaloosa County Emergency Operations Center, is opening two Multi-Agency Resource Centers on Wednesday, Oct. 14, for people impacted by Hurricane Isaias, according to Okaloosa County.
The centers will be open to individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits seeking assistance. The centers bring together several government and nongovernmental agencies offering resources to support recovery needs, according to the county.
Visitors can request assistance from nonprofit and state partners for food, water, housing, recovery services and more, according to the county. They can also meet with representatives from state agencies about storm recovery resources and services, from storm cleanup to emotional support.
PROMOTED
Your family physicians. Still serving this community.
Thank You, Fort Walton Beach. We’re Still Here for You.
Thank you for the privilege and honor of allowing us to care for you and your families over the years. Serving the Fort Walton Beach community has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our careers.
We are pleased to share some good news: we are still practicing and continuing to serve the community.
Dr. John E. Loudermilk has cared for patients in the area since 2021, and Dr. Chris G. Pappas has since 2012. Together, we are excited to welcome patients to our new MDVIP-affiliated practice, a personalized family medicine clinic located at 4608 Opa-Locka Lane, Suite 300, in Destin, FL.
Whether you’ve been a patient for years or are looking for a new healthcare home, we’d love the opportunity to care for you. Schedule a free meet-and-greet to learn more about our patient-centered approach to medicine by calling 850.904.4940 or visiting mdvip.com/DestinDocs.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Okaloosa Health Department shares water safety recommendations for beaches, pools after Hurricane Isaias
The Okaloosa Health Department is sharing water safety recommendations after Hurricane Isaias, including avoiding swimming in coastal waters until testing shows acceptable bacteria levels and staying out of pools until they are properly cleaned.
Water quality has been affected by the hurricane, and swimming is not recommended, according to the department.
The department said the guidance is a set of post-hurricane water safety recommendations and not a formal health advisory.
WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: Sunny, with a high near 85. East wind around 5 mph.
TONIGHT: Clear, with a low around 71. South wind 0 to 5 mph.
TRAFFIC
Eglin AFB to close Highway 85, 285, SR 123 and SR 293 Thursday for test missions
Drivers on Highway 85, Highway 285, State Road 123 and State Road 293 could face temporary road closures Thursday, Oct. 15, while the 96th Test Wing conducts testing on the Eglin Test and Training Complex.
The closures are scheduled between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., according to a news release from the 96th Test Wing Office of Public Affairs.
The roads should not be closed for more than 90 minutes at a time, but they may be closed for several periods within that time frame, the release stated.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Wednesday! Help us shape the future of local news and make a meaningful impact on your community. Click here to learn how you can support us!
p.s. What did you think of this morning’s newsletter? Hit the reply button and let me know!
Jared
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