Hurricane Isaac - Bay County - WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News Leader

Hurricane Isaac - Bay County

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Bay County advisories issued for Tropical Storm Isaac. Please stay tuned to News 13 and the First Alert Weather team for complete details of the approaching storm.

Bay County Commission

Due to the diminished threat from Tropical Storm Isaac, the Bay County Emergency Operations Center has moved to a Level 2 status. Level 2 is a partial activation of the EOC with representatives from state, local, and volunteer agencies continuing to monitor the storm.

County and Constitutional Offices will reopen Wednesday, August 29, 2012.

Dangerous surf and rip current conditions will continue to affect our area. Bay County beaches remain under double red flag warnings. Beaches are closed to the public.

The shelter at Deane Bozeman School is now closed.

Storm surge continues to pose an isolated flooding threat for low-lying areas.  Citizens are requested to report flooding to 850-784-4000. Public Works crews continue to work to clear any accumulated debris or obstructions in stormwater infrastructure.

Daily media briefings have been discontinued. Please direct any inquiries to the Emergency Services Office.

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Bay District Schools

All schools, including Deane Bozeman School, and all district offices will resume regular operations on Wednesday, August 29th. 

Employees and students should report to their assigned schools and departments at their regularly scheduled times. 

Buses will also run on schedule on Wednesday morning. 
 
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Gulf Coast State College
  
Gulf Coast State College will resume regular operations on Wednesday, August 29.  All classes and events on all GCSC campuses will return to their normal schedules.
 
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Florida State University - Panama City Campus
  
FSU Panama City will resume fully operational status on Wednesday, August 29.

All classes and campus events planned for Wednesday, August 29 will be held as scheduled.

In observance of Labor Day, the FSU Panama City campus will be closed on Monday, September 3.

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Naval Support Activity Panama City

Naval Support Activity Panama City returned to Condition of Readiness (COR) Three today, Aug. 28, as Hurricane Isaac heads for landfall along the Louisiana coastline. The base was closed for business Tuesday August 28 but anticipates all commands will be open Wednesday August 29. Personnel should check with their supervisors at respective commands for specific instructions.

The NSA PC Emergency Operations Center will continue to evaluate and disseminate information as needed if conditions change. Employees should continue to monitor local media for weather conditions in their area and check the NSA PC emergency information line at (850) 234-4100, or 1-800-819-1221 for additional information on the status of the activity.

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8-27-12 UPDATES
Bay District Schools

As a precaution, all Bay District public schools, the Bay Base after school program and district offices will be closed on Tuesday, except for the school district maintenance department. All maintenance department employees should report to work at the regular time.

The Tuesday School Board meeting will also be rescheduled to a later date.

 A decision about Wednesday will be made on Tuesday.

Please pay attention to media reports in the newspaper and on television and radio stations for further information about Wednesday.
 
Gulf Coast State College
 
In addition based on current conditions and information from area emergency operations personnel, all campuses  of Gulf Coast State College will close at 5 pm today (local time), and will remain closed tomorrow, Tuesday, August 28.
 
All of tonight's evening classes and events are canceled, and all classes and events will be canceled tomorrow. Please continue to check local media and www.gulfcoast.edu for further updates -- the operational status for Wednesday will be re-evaluated with the latest storm information on Tuesday.
 
Florida State University - Panama City Campus
  
FSU Panama City is fully operational on Monday, August 27, 2012, including continuation of evening class schedule.

Based upon information from area emergency operations personnel, ALL classes and events scheduled at FSU Panama City on Tuesday, August 28, 2012, have been CANCELLED. 

Please continue to check local media and http://pc.fsu.edu/ for further updates.

Troy State University - Panama City and Tyndall Campuses

The Pensacola, Ft. Walton Beach, Hurlburt and Eglin locations of Troy University will be closed on Tuesday, Aug. 28 and Wednesday, Aug. 29, due to Tropical Storm Isaac.

Classes are also canceled at the Panama City and Tyndall locations for Tuesday, Aug. 28. In addition, only essential personnel are to report to work at the Panama City and Tyndall locations on Tuesday. A decision regarding any cancellations/closures of the Panama City and Tyndall locations on Wednesday will be made Tuesday afternoon.

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Bay County Courthouse

The Bay County Courthouse will be open for business as usual on Tuesday.

Panama City Hall

The Panama City Commission and CRA meetings have been rescheduled for Tuesday September 4th 2012.  The CRA meeting will begin at 3:00PM with the Commission meeting following at 4:00PM

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Early Education and Care

Early Education and Care's main office will close at 4:00 p.m. Monday and be closed on Tuesday due to the approaching storm. All Head Start sites in Bay and Franklin Counties will be closed on Tuesday.   

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Bay County Commission
 
Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to have a significant impact to Bay and surrounding Counties.  Persons living in mobile homes and low lying or flood prone areas should seek shelter at Dean Bozeman school located at 13410 Hwy. 77 just north of Southport, FL.  Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate today and continue through mid-week.

Daily media briefings will be held at 10:00 a.m. from the Bay County Emergency Operations Center.  Bay County citizens are encouraged to monitor current weather conditions closely and only travel when absolutely necessary until weather conditions subside.  

Bay County Government offices will be closed Tuesday, August 28.  The current status of shelters and government office closures will be reassessed and any changes for Wednesday will be announced.

Local emergency management officials will continue to be in close contact with the National Weather Service and the State Emergency Operations Center as they monitor the storm.

The effects of a hurricane or tropical storm can be far-reaching. Areas impacted directly by a hurricane or tropical storm can be affected by high winds and flooding, especially along waterways and in low-lying areas. Fringe areas of these storms are vulnerable to tornadoes and in-land flooding caused by heavy rain.

The County will communicate with the public through the news media and the County home page (www.baycountyfl.gov).

Bay County Health Department

The Bay County Health Department will be closed on Tuesday, August 28, 2012, due to other county government offices being closed.  The health department will assess for opening on Wednesday and notify the public of plans as soon as possible.

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Steelfield Road Landfill to be Closed

Due to Tropical Storm Isaac, the Steelfield Rd Landfill and the Bay County Waste to Energy Facility will both be closed on Tuesday, August 28, 2012.

Both facilities are expected to reopen on Wednesday, August 29, 2012.

The County will communicate with the public through the news media and the County home page (www.baycountyfl.gov).

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Boys and Girls Club of Bay County

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County follows the Bay District Schools Calendar and Closures guide lines and as they are closed tomorrow, Tuesday, August 28 due to impending weather, all units of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County will be CLOSED as well. We want everybody to stay safe. Stay tuned to local radio and TV stations for announcements.

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Girls Inc. of Bay County

Girls Incorporated of Bay County will be closed on Tuesday. Girls Inc. officials say they will follow the discretion of Bay District Schools for resuming normal hours.

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Good Shepherd Early Learning Center

Good Shepherd Early Learning Center will be closed on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 due to Hurricane Isaac.
 
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Visual Arts Center
 
The Visual Arts Center will be closed tomorrow (August 28) due to tropical storm Isaac. There will not be a Paint Your 'Art Out class tomorrow evening.

We will notify everyone as quickly as possible if the VAC will reopen on Wednesday. We look forward to seeing everybody later in the week when the storm passes!

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Early Learning Coalition

Due to Tropical Storm/Hurricane Isaac, the Coalition will close its offices on Tuesday, August 28, 2012.  Parents and providers may reach the Coalition at 850-747-5400 or http://www.facebook.com/ELCNWFL  for more information.

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St. Bernadette Child Development

St. Bernadette Child Development Academy 1214 Moylan Road Panama City Beach Fl will be closed Tuesday, August 28, 2012 due to weather conditions.

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Workforce Center

The Workforce Center will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, August 28 due to the approaching storm. The operational status for Wednesday will be re-evaluated and announced tomorrow after 1 pm.

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Chemical Addictions Recovery Effort

All CARE (Chemical Addictions Recovery Effort, Inc.) Outpatient and administrative offices will be closed on Tuesday. This also includes the 14th Judicial D.U.I. Program and the ALPHA/PREVENTION programs.

A decision about Wednesday will be made on Tuesday.

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Earlier releases

 
On Monday, August 27, 2012, schools will be open and buses will be fully operational EXCEPT for Deane Bozeman School. The director of the Bay County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has asked Superintendent Bill Husfelt to suspend school operations for students on Monday to open Deane Bozeman School, which serves as a Special Needs shelter during inclement weather. ALL OTHER SCHOOLS WILL BE OPEN AND OPERATE AS USUAL. More information about school operations will be provided by noon on Monday.
 
Deane Bozeman staff and teachers will report at their regular times in order to prepare the school and classrooms for shelter operations. They will be released by midday Monday. The decision to open the school early is out of an abundance of caution in anticipation of rising water. Also, because the school is a Special Needs shelter, the set up time for medical equipment and staff is significantly more complex and requires more time than other shelters. 
 
The duty of the director of the EOC is to safeguard citizens during natural disasters. School district officials fully cooperate with the decisions of the EOC director and the County Commission to assist with the protection of citizens by providing administrators and schools as needed for shelters.  
 
Parents, students, staff and community member should pay attention to local media reports in newspapers, on television and radio for updates on school information.
 
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Bay County Commission to hold Special Meeting on TS Isaac
 
The Bay County Board of County Commissioners will hold a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, August 26, 2012 to determine protective actions in response to Tropical Storm Isaac. The meeting will be at the Bay County Government Center at 840 W. 11 th Street .

The Bay County Emergency Operations Center will move to a Level 1 Activation at 7 a.m. on Monday, August 27, 2012. Regular press briefings will be held at 10 a.m. daily.

Latest forecast models show Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days.  The storm is expected to continue into the eastern Gulf, and by the middle of next week looks to make a second landfall on the northern Gulf Coast .

Local emergency management officials will continue to be in close contact with the National Weather Service and the State Emergency Operations Center as they monitor the storm.

The effects of a hurricane or tropical storm can be far-reaching. Areas impacted directly by a hurricane or tropical storm can be affected by high winds and flooding, especially along waterways and in low-lying areas. Fringe areas of these storms are vulnerable to tornadoes and in-land flooding caused by heavy rain.

Bowen urges citizens to make preparations by securing their homes and property, putting up shutters and securing loose items. Stock up on medications, water, batteries, canned food and other items that might be necessary if there is an extended power outage. Fuel vehicles and procure a supply of cash.

The County will communicate with the public through the news media and the County home page ( www.baycountyfl.gov).

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Bay County Health Department

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) advises private well owners affected by flood waters to take precautions against disease-causing organisms that may make their water unsafe to drink.

DOH recommends one of the following:  

  • Use bottled water, especially for mixing baby formula; or
  • Boil water before use, holding it at rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, washing, cooking, etc.; or
  • Disinfect water by adding 8 drops (about 1/8 tsp – this would form a puddle about the size of a dime) of plain unscented household bleach (4 to 6%) per gallon of water, and then let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy after 30 minutes, repeat the procedure. Use a container that has a cap or cover for disinfecting and storing water to be used for drinking. This will prevent contamination.

After the flooding subsides: 

  • Disinfect your well using the procedures available from the Bay County health department or provided on the Department of Health at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/water/manual/floodinf.htm; and
  • Have your water tested by the Bay County health department or by a laboratory certified by the State to perform a drinking water analysis for coliform bacteria.
  • Continue to use bottled/boiled/disinfected water until lab tests confirm that it is safe.

For further information, please contact the Bay County Health Department: (850) 872-4660 ext 1224 or visit www.doh.state.fl.us or www.FloridaDisaster.org.

Also in periods of heavy rain, you may be experiencing difficulties with your sewage system not functioning properly.  If you have a septic system that operates by a dosing pump, it will not function without electricity.  You should refrain from using water in your home as much as possible until electricity is restored.  Without the pump working, the tanks will fill and may cause backups of sewage in your home.

General precautions:

  • Do not let children play in flood waters as these waters may be contaminated by sewage.
  • If you live in a low-lying or flood-prone area, the ground in your area may be saturated from heavy rainfalls or flooding.  You should use household water as little as possible to prevent backups of sewage into your home.

What should I do if sewage backs up?

  • If a sewage backup has occurred in your home, stay out of affected areas and keep children away.  If your entire home has been saturated, abandon the home until all affected areas, including but not limited to carpets, rugs, sheetrock, drywall, and baseboards, have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
  • If sewage has overflowed in open areas or streets, etc., avoid these areas and keep children out of these areas.
  • If you are having problems in areas served by sewer systems, please contact your utility company to insure they are aware of problems in your area.

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Department of Children and Families

Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to continue to impact Florida as it treks northwest through Gulf of Mexico. Florida's residents, businesses and visitors should actively monitor the storm and finalize emergency preparations. Heed all instructions from local officials and contact your local emergency management agency for details about your area.

The Department of Children and Families announces the following office closures due to Tropical Storm Isaac:

· Bay (closed Tuesday)

· Escambia (closed noon Monday)

· Santa Rosa (closed Tuesday)

· Walton (closed Monday and Tuesday)

A new web page on our internet site will give updated information about DCF-related issues and office closings during hurricanes and other disasters. Please go to www.myflfamilies.com/disaster for more information.

To prepare your family for a hurricane, please go to the state of Florida's "Get a Plan" site at www.floridadisaster.org. For more information about food safety, please download "A Consumer's Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes" at www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Severe_Storms_and_Hurricanes_Guide.pdf