Cold Weather Closures and Updates
Per the latest update from the National Weather Service in Mobile, temperatures will plummet tonight into the teens to low 20s across most of the service area. Winds will remain elevated as well, leading to wind chills in the single digits to low teens. NWS has extended the Hard Freeze Warning and Wind Chill Advisory further east.
"Given this afternoon's sunshine and winds, most roads have dried, however any roads that are still wet could form black ice tonight as temperatures drop below freezing," said Public Safety Director Brad Baker. "Any black ice that may form could persist into tomorrow morning as it will take several hours to increase above freezing."
The following offices and services are CLOSED on Tues., Feb. 16:
- Santa Rosa District Schools
- Based on current information provided by the National Weather Service and Santa Rosa Emergency Operations, school and all extra-curricular events will be cancelled for Tues., Feb. 16.
- School will resume on Wednesday.
- Pensacola State College
- Beginning the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 16, all offices will be closed, and face-to-face classes will be canceled until 1 p.m.
- All face-to-face classes scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. or later will be held as scheduled. Online, live online and hybrid classes will not be canceled and be held as scheduled.
- COVID Testing Site at Tiger Point
- The COVID testing center at Tiger Point will be closed tomorrow, Feb.16 and reopen for regular testing hours (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) on Thurs., Feb. 18.
The following offices are OPEN for business as usual:
- Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners
Public works crews will be on-call tonight for any roadway issues.
Remember, no bridges are closed in advance of weather event.
- Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections
- Santa Rosa County Tax Collector
- Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser
- Santa Rosa County Clerk of Courts
- Santa Rosa County Health Department including all COVID vaccination clinics
Remember the Five Ps of Cold Weather Safety:
- Protect People: Remember to dress in layers and wear a hat and gloves. It is essential to try to stay out of the wind and to stay dry. Check on young children and older family and neighbors who are the most sensitive to cold weather. If the temperature cannot be maintained at home, make temporary arrangements to stay elsewhere, including with friends and family.
- Protect Pets: Bring outdoor pets inside or provide them with warm shelter.
- Protect Plants: Cover cold-sensitive plants.
- Protect Pipes: Insulate outdoor faucets, cover exposed pipes and allow faucets to drip to prevent from freezing. Open cabinet doors under sinks that run along exterior walls. Know where your water cut-off valve is and how to use it. The valve is typically located adjacent to your water meter box.
- Practice Fire Safety: Use safe heating sources indoors. Never use fuel-burning devices such as grills; which release deadly and odorless carbon monoxide. Use space heaters according to their instructions and be attentive to open flames. Remember, space heaters need space!
Escambia River Electric Cooperative Update
- Frigid cold snaps put excess demand on power systems. To keep future power bills in check, remember this simple fact: when one uses electricity can be as important as how much electricity one consumes.
- Electricity use fluctuates throughout the day based on consumer demand, and EREC must be able to provide enough electricity to meet the energy demands of members during times of highest energy use, also known as “on-peak hours.” Early-morning hours, when people start their day, and evening hours, when people return to their homes after work, are common times for on-peak hours.
- An electric utility’s rates are set by their highest on-peak demand. Using less on-peak power means lower costs for the co-op, and ultimately, keeps rates low for members. During a hard freeze, increased use of heating systems coupled with other electricity demands can create higher usage during on-peak hours for the cooperative.
- During the frigid temperature tomorrow morning, help keep EREC’s energy demand peak lower by using less electricity during that time. Don’t do tasks that use a significant amount of energy such as washing/drying clothes and running the dishwasher that morning. Wait until later in the day when the temperatures are higher, and the heating system isn’t having to work so hard. Turn off electronic equipment such as televisions, computers, or printers connected to a power strip during peak hours.
- One may think those small tasks do not amount to much, but when members work together to shave the peak, it makes a big difference - a difference that translates into savings on future power bills.
Cold Weather Shelter Reminder
- The cold weather shelter for the homeless and/or heatless will open Mon., Feb. 15 and Tues., Feb. 16 at Ferris Hill Baptist Church, 6848 Chaffin St. in Milton. Those who would like to stay at the shelter must arrive between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Only service animals (with verification of rabies vaccination) are permitted to stay with guests. No one will be admitted after 8:30 p.m. unless brought in by law enforcement. The shelter closes at 7 a.m. each morning.
- Forehead temperature scans will be taken upon registration. Masks will be provided and required, and all are asked to adhere to safety precautions put in place due to COVID-19.
- The church's shelter program has also been looking for volunteers, call 850-623-3500 (option 6) to sign up.
- Santa Rosa County's cold weather shelter is operated by Ferris Hill Baptist Church, utilizing volunteer resources and donations. It opens each night weather is forecasted to drop below 40 degrees, typically December through March. The shelter is for people who are homeless or cannot maintain heat in their home, can care for themselves, and are not at risk to themselves or others. No one will be admitted to the shelter who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, unable to walk unaided or disoriented.
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