NW Florida prepares to help storm evacuees, victims

Milton is anticipated to make landfall as a Category 3 or stronger storm late Wednesday or early Thursday in the Tampa Bay area.

None of Okaloosa County’s hurricane shelters, which are in schools, are currently open, county Public Information Officer Nick Tomecek said today.

“Although we are not in the storm’s path, we anticipate some related weather conditions such as high offshore waves, high surf height and elevated rip currents,” officials with Visit Destin-Fort Walton Beach, the county’s tourism arm, said today in a Facebook post. “Text BEACH to 44144 for updated water conditions.”

They also shared a link for accommodations for hurricane evacuees: https://go.destinfwb.com/4eWB2LK

Area vacation rental agencies, such as Scenic Stays, are offering discounted rates for evacuees.

“If you or someone you know is in the path of Hurricane Milton, our doors in Northwest Florida are open,” Scenic Stays’ officials said Monday on Facebook. “As you make evacuation plans, Scenic Stays is offering 35% off all our inventory from Panama City Beach to Navarre Beach with promo code MILTON at checkout.”

For equine evacuations, the June Ates Arena and Santa Rosa County Fairgrounds are open to horses and horse trailers belonging to hurricane evacuees.

“Please bring generators and portable pens as we are limited to actual hook up sites and numbers of stalls available,” arena officials said Sunday on Facebook. “We have 15 stalls currently under roof. If you have other fur family members, please bring leashes and/or tie out lines. We have 15-ish acres cleared for horse trailers and campers alike. You do not have to be a member of the horse community if you need a place to stay.”

The arena is off Interstate 10 at exit 31. Its GPS address is 8700 Bobby Brown Rd., Milton, FL 32583. Call 850-463-8619 for more information.

Because Santa Rosa County has accepted the mission to accept equine evacuations, the need for additional space in Okaloosa County and the region has not been deemed necessary at this time, according to Tomecek.

On Sept. 27, the day after Category 4 Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area, Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden and 17 OCSO deputies and staffers arrived in Madison County, east of Tallahassee, to help with storm-recovery efforts. During 12-to-14-hour-long days, they helped clear downed trees, power lines and debris from roads and responded to calls for service before returning home on Oct. 1.

The OCSO will also send a group of volunteers to help with post-Hurricane Milton recovery tasks in Central Florida, but the timing and location of their mission isn’t known yet, OCSO spokeswoman Michele Nicholson said this afternoon.

Following Hurricane Helene, several Crestview Fire Department firefighters supported water rescue operations and supplemented emergency services in the Mayo area between Steinhatchee and Live Oak.

Members of the CFD will be sent to assist people in Central Florida after Hurricane Milton makes landfall, Crestview officials said.