Hurricane Isaias Updates

Navarre Beach Utilities

Due to the increased predicted storm surge of up to 9 feet and a Category 2 hurricane at landfall, water service to all residents and businesses on Navarre Beach will be shut off at 12 p.m. today, Friday, October 9.

Crews will return as soon as it is safe to do so to assess the water system and determine when service can be restored. A precautionary boil water notice will be in place once water is restored. This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.

Please do not return to Navarre Beach as soon as the winds subside. Give crews time to safely assess conditions and any potential damage before returning to the area.

Evacuation Orders

  • An evacuation order has been issued for Zones A, B, and C, low-lying areas and mobile homes in Santa Rosa County. Don’t wait, evacuate! Evacuation only needs to be tens of miles, not hundreds, to be safe.
  • Know Your Zone! Visit Santa Rosa County’s Know Your Zone for evacuation zone information. Zones A and B are the orange and red areas on the evacuation map and generally include areas on/close to water (Navarre Beach, Blackwater River, Escambia Bay, East Bay, Santa Rosa Sound, etc.)

Citizen Information Line

The Citizen Information Line will be open at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, October 9. Call 850-983-INFO (4636) for information.

Tolls

As Hurricane Isaias nears the Gulf Coast, Governor Ron DeSantis has directed the suspension of tolls on Garcon Point Bridge in Santa Rosa County to facilitate evacuations out of the storm’s direct path. Due to increased traffic, remember to be patient and drive carefully. Use FL511.com or download the Florida 511 app for the most up-to-date road conditions.

Road Closures

Information provided by City of Milton: The following streets will be closed to through traffic from 7 a.m. Friday, October 9 until after the storm passes to expedite evacuating traffic on Highway 90 through downtown:

  • Eastbound Berryhill Street, from Canal Street to Broad Street
  • North Willing Street, from Caroline Street (HWY 90) to Berryhill
  • North Elmira Street, from Caroline Street (HWY 90) to Berryhill

Local traffic can still access these streets from Canal Street only.

Shelter

The Clyde L. Gracey (Milton) Community Center, 5629 Byrom St. in Milton, will open at 8 a.m. on Friday, October 8, as a shelter for residents who want to evacuate or do not feel safe in their homes. No pre-registration is required.

This shelter is also a pet-friendly shelter. Bring pet(s) in a carrier with proof of vaccinations and all pet food and supplies, including water, leashes and/or litter boxes with litter.

Shelters are usually uncomfortable. Meals are not provided. It is recommended that other arrangements be made to stay at a hotel or with a friends or family in a well-constructed home that is properly protected to withstand hurricane-force winds.

Anyone needing transportation assistance to a shelter should call (850) 983-4636. Transportation will only be provided if winds are below tropical storm force (so call early) and will only take you to a designated shelter.

Bring the following items:

  • Personal identification
  • Water, non-perishable snacks and any special dietary needs.
  • A change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes.
  • Toiletries and personal items.
  • Blankets, pillows and sleeping bags.
  • Games or toys for children; books for adults.
  • Special items for infants or elderly family members.
  • Battery-operated radio, flashlights and plenty of spare batteries.
  • Prescriptions or any over-the-counter medications you normally need.

Key Messages

  • Residents should be completing any preparations by Friday afternoon, October 9.
  • A hurricane warning is in effect for Santa Rosa County and a Storm Surge Warning is in effect for the coastline.
  • Santa Rosa County is under a Flood Watch from 1 p.m. Friday, October 9 through 1 p.m. Saturday, October 10.
  • Hurricane Isaias is currently a Category 3.
  • Hurricane Isaias is forecast to make landfall between coastal Alabama and northwest Florida this evening. While the storm is not expected to make landfall at peak intensity, it is likely that Isaias will still be a significant hurricane when it reaches the coast.
  • Significant impacts are likely. Impacts include damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, high surf, rip currents, flash flooding, and tornadoes.
  • The greatest wind damage risk is along coastal areas. However, given the fast movement of the storm, the potential for strong, damaging winds also extends inland.
  • There is potential for: Considerable roof damage; mobile homes damaged; many large trees snapped or uprooted along with road signs blown over; some roads impassable due to debris; large areas of power outages.
  • There is an increasing risk for tornadoes Friday night into early Saturday morning. The greatest risk for tornadoes will exist for areas north and east of where the center of Isaias tracks (within any heavier rain bands). Have multiple ways to receive weather warnings!
  • There is a potential for flash flooding. Residents should prepare for: Flooding of some structures, especially in typical vulnerable locations; rapid inundation at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas in some places; hazardous driving conditions; water flow over streets and parking lots as storm drains and retention ponds overflow.
  • The extent of the heavy rain will highly depend on the exact track.
  • Turn around, don’t drown! Never cross a flooded roadway because you can’t see whether the road has been damaged.
  • Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to quickly move to higher ground if warnings are issued.
  • A high rip current risk is in effect for Navarre Beach through at least Saturday, October 10. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. Always swim near a lifeguard.
  • Santa Rosa County Emergency Management has declared a Local State of Emergency, view online here.
  • Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a State of Emergency with Executive Order 26-202, view online here.

Sand

The county’s public works department has sand available on a first-come, first-served basis at the following locations:

Residents must provide their own sandbags and shovel. Bags can be purchased at many local hardware stores. For information on how to make and use sandbags, visit the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (www.flash.org). While sandbags can help mitigate to an extent, buying flood insurance is the best protection against flood loss.

Floods are the nation’s most common and costly natural disaster and cause millions of dollars in damage every year. And get it sooner rather than later – flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.

Bridges

  • Bridges ONLY close when sustained tropical storm force winds are observed by FDOT or law enforcement officials. If one bridge closes, it does not mean all bridges will close.
  • For state and federal road closures (I-10, Hwy. 87, Hwy. 89, Hwy. 90, Hwy. 98, Hwy. 4, Avalon Blvd.), see www.FL511.com.

Cancellations

  • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Amnesty Day at the South Santa Rosa Service Center and Waste Tire Amnesty Day at the Central Landfill in Milton are cancelled for Saturday, October 10.
  • Santa Rosa County Animal Services has cancelled the Fall Fest Adoption Event originally scheduled for Saturday, October 10.

Santa Rosa County Offices

  • The Central Landfill in Milton will close at 12 p.m. on Friday, October 9 and will remain closed on Saturday, October 10. The Jay Transfer Station is closed Saturday, October 10. The Central Landfill is expected to reopen Monday, October 12 at 7 a.m.
  • Santa Rosa County Offices, Clerk of Court, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, and Tax Collector will be closed Friday, October 9. The Tax Collector’s office will also be closed on Monday, October 12, for staff training. Other offices are expected to resume normal operations on Monday, October 12.
  • Santa Rosa County Libraries are closed through Saturday, October 10.
  • Santa Rosa County Animal Shelter will be closed on Saturday, October 10.
  • All facility reservations for Friday and Saturday have been canceled. Those with reservations on Sunday have been notified that their events may also be canceled pending storm damage assessments.

Navarre Beach Pier

  • Navarre Beach Pier will be closed Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10.

Santa Rosa County District Schools

  • Out of an abundance of caution, all schools and district offices will be closed on Friday, October 9. This includes athletic events, practices, clubs, meetings, and other school-sponsored activities.
  • All district and school-sponsored activities scheduled for Saturday, October 10, are also canceled.
  • As a reminder, Monday, October 12, is a Planning Day and there is no school for students that day.

Courts of the First Judicial Circuit in Santa Rosa County

  • In anticipation of inclement weather, the Courts of the First Judicial Circuit in Santa Rosa County will be closed all day Friday, October 9.

City of Milton

  • City Offices: All City offices will be closed Friday, October 9.
  • City Parks: All City parks will close Friday, October 9, and remain closed until further notice.
  • Sanitation: Friday, October 9, sanitation collections will operate from 7 a.m. to noon. Residents should place their garbage carts curbside early and secure them immediately after collection to prevent them from becoming hazards during the storm.
  • Utility Billing: Late fees on utility bills will be paused October 8–9, 2026.
  • Utility Outages: Residents experiencing a City utility outage or service disruption, including water, sewer or natural gas, should report it by calling (850) 983-5420.

City of Gulf Breeze

  • Normal City operations will close at NOON FRIDAY, or earlier if weather conditions warrant. The City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at City Hall will be fully operational throughout the storm response.

Department of Health – Santa Rosa County

  • All Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County (DOH-Santa Rosa) offices will be closed on Friday, October 9, 2026, in response to severe weather impacts. Offices will remain closed until further notice.

Gulf Islands National Seashore

  • Opal Beach Complex will close for day use October 7 at Noon.

211 Community Resources & Non-Emergency Assistance

For up-to-date information on non-emergency community resources, evacuation assistance, storm shelter details, and post-storm recovery support, residents can dial 211 or visit 211nwfl.org. Provided by United Way of West Florida, 211 Northwest Florida offers free, confidential, 24/7 support connecting residents to critical services before, during, and after severe weather events.

Prepare now. Make sure all family members know the plan.

  • Check your disaster supply kit and replenish necessary items. Remember, be one-week ready! Review your disaster plan and make sure it includes your pets.
  • Halfway full is halfway there – residents and visitors should keep their gas tanks at least half full during hurricane season to ensure they have enough fuel to evacuate as soon as possible without worrying about long lines at gas stations and to avoid gas shortages before a storm.
  • Have multiple ways of receiving alerts and monitor official sources for information.
  • Clear clogged rain gutters, downspouts, and storm drains to help with the flow of water during heavy rain during hurricane season.
  • Limit damage caused by high winds by removing any debris from your yard and trimming your trees, shrubs, etc.
  • Every home should have a NOAA weather radio, the first line of defense before relying on alerts through a smartphone.
  • Smartphone weather apps are also an excellent delivery source of severe weather information and other disaster updates – especially in the overnight hours. Santa Rosa County’s alert app – AlertSantaRosa.com – provides updates on emergency incidents (hazardous materials as well as severe weather) in the county at addresses of your choice (work, school, home, etc).
  • Be sure that you have not disabled your alerts on your phone and that it is fully charged and within reach. If you use the “Do Not Disturb” feature on your phone at night, turn it off so that any emergency calls may come through.

For current weather events, visit www.weather.gov/mob. For information on preparing for disasters, visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/974/Emergency-Management.

Sign up for emergency alerts and public safety notifications through Alert Florida.