This is our liveblog coverage of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Isaias as it heads toward the Emerald Coast. We will update it as we get more information.
Update 1: October 7 at 2:20 PM
Niceville declares a state of emergency.
The city of Niceville declared a state of emergency at 2:00 PM Central Time via a vote of the City Council in an emergency meeting. The city has made the declaration in part to ensure it is able to get reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
City Manager David Deitch said that he expects Okaloosa County to announce a state of emergency later in the day – and that the County Emergency Management team will announce an evacuation of flood zones A and B during the storm. This includes Holiday Isle in Destin, various coastal areas in Fort Walton Beach and several properties on the Hattie’s Grove peninsula of Niceville.
“They’re expecting four to six inches of rain on top of the 10 to 15 inches we’ve already received over the last few days and weeks,” Deitch told the City Council during their emergency meeting, “So with that, with the heavy wind, we’re anticipating, and I do anticipate a lot of the trees will start coming down because the ground’s so saturated. They’re expecting a five- to seven-foot storm surge. Tropical-force winds are likely. Tornadoes are certainly possible, and we are going to be on the east side of the storm. At least that’s what it’s projected to look like right now. So it’s possible we will see some tornado activity. They’re expecting 20 to 25 foot breakers out on the water, so do not go surfing.”
Deitch added that he believes Okaloosa County’s Emergency Management Team will open the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) early in the morning on Friday – the day of expected landfall.
Okaloosa County School District cancels classes and reschedules games.
The Okaloosa County School District has also announced that school has been canceled for Thursday and Friday. This also means that football games associated with Okaloosa County Schools have been rescheduled.
The Fort Walton Beach/Choctawhatchee contest has been rescheduled to Monday, October 12 at 7 PM. Still at Joe Etheridge Stadium in Fort Walton Beach. Niceville hosts Pace the same day, as a result of the reschedule.
