Okaloosa County declared a local state of emergency as of 5 p.m. Wednesday and ordered a mandatory evacuation for residents in coastal Zones A and B ahead of expected local impacts from Hurricane Isaias, according to the county.
- The mandatory evacuation becomes active at noon Thursday, Oct. 8. The county is also asking all out-of-town visitors to evacuate beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, and two shelters will open at 6 p.m. Thursday.
“We take disaster preparedness and response seriously in Okaloosa County and want to make sure every individual has the resources they need to keep themselves and their family safe,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin. “I encourage everyone to have multiple ways to stay informed and listen to your emergency officials and trusted news sources.”
Mandatory evacuation for Zones A and B
The evacuation order covers residents living in the coastal areas of Zones A and B. According to the county, that includes residents living on Okaloosa Island, portions of coastal Fort Walton Beach, portions of coastal Destin, and portions of coastal Mary Esther and Niceville.
Residents can look up their address at myokaloosa.com/gis_ps to view their zone designation and a map.
“Do not wait until the last moment to enter the roadways,” the county wrote. “Plan early, execute early to mitigate avoidable slowdowns.”
Visitors asked to leave
The county is asking all out-of-town visitors to evacuate from the forecast area of impacts beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Visitors with questions about their reservation should reach out to their reservation service, according to the county.
Two shelters open Thursday at 6 p.m.
Two shelters will open at 6 p.m. Thursday to receive evacuating Okaloosa County residents. More may open later depending on need, the county said.
- Davidson Middle School, 6261 Old Bethel Road in Crestview. This shelter is for the general population and special needs, and is pet-friendly.
- The Raider Arena at Northwest Florida State College, 100 E. College Blvd. in Niceville.
At Davidson Middle School, animals will be kept on site but owners will not be able to visit with them, to avoid injuries, according to the county. Special needs individuals must register ahead of time through the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County.
The county said it is highly recommended that residents make other arrangements with a friend or relative who lives in a well-constructed home outside of the evacuation area that is properly protected to withstand hurricane-force winds.
What to bring to a shelter:
- Clothes
- Rain gear
- Toiletries
- Sleeping bag
- Identification
- Prescriptions
- Entertainment, with chargers
- Special dietary needs
- Insurance cards
Do not bring:
- Weapons
- Alcohol or illegal drugs
State of emergency
The local state of emergency was declared under authority granted by the county’s Emergency Management Ordinance and the Board of County Commissioners. It will be in effect for seven days unless rescinded or extended as allowed by Florida law.
The declaration gives the County Administrator and emergency managers the ability to quickly take certain actions to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the community, and provides a path for federal reimbursement of certain expenses, according to the county.
The Emergency Operations Center was activated at Level 2 as of noon Wednesday. It will move toward Level 1, with more manpower and resources, beginning at 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9.
Closures
Airports: All Okaloosa County airports (VPS, DTS and CEW) will close at 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8. No aircraft operations will be permitted past 9 p.m., and the airport terminal and airport properties will not be available as a shelter area, according to the county.
County offices: The county plans to close its offices Friday, Oct. 9, after completing the workday Thursday. The county said it intends to stay open Thursday to finish preparations before landfall of the storm late Friday or early Saturday.
If the pace of the storm increases and brings dangerous impacts earlier than predicted, the county may consider closing offices after midday Thursday.
Sandbags
Self-service sand and sandbags are now available at two locations while supplies last, according to the county:
- Stillwell Park, 710 Essex Road in Fort Walton Beach
- Public Works North, 1759 S. Ferdon Blvd. in Crestview
Emergency alerts
Residents can sign up for emergency notifications through the county’s alert system at AlertOkaloosa.com or by texting “OKALOOSAFL” to 888777. The county’s hurricane guide, which includes a list of hurricane preparedness supplies, is also available on that site.
