As the storm takes aim at the Gulf Coast, Okaloosa County officials at the Emergency Operations Center are preparing for a direct Category 2 hit, which is expected late Friday, Oct. 9. Forecasts from the National Hurricane Center predict landfall anywhere between Mississippi and Northwest Florida.
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center maintains an active hurricane watch between Mississippi and Indian Pass, Florida.
Director of Public Safety Patrick Maddox said the county anticipates that the storm will die down to Category 1 prior to landfall as it continues to shift further east. Tropical-storm-force winds of over 100 mph are anticipated by midday Friday before the storm makes landfall Friday night.
He said north Okaloosa County residents should be wary of tornado activity, high winds and an anticipated 3-5 inches of rain. Storm surges of 5 to 7 feet are anticipated along the coast.
Although severe flooding is not forecast in north Okaloosa County, residents can track the levels of the Blackwater, Yellow and Shoal rivers on the Southeast River Forecast Center website.
The Shoal River, which is Okaloosa County’s fastest-reacting river, is not expected to reach even minor flooding levels, but Maddox encourages residents to remain vigilant.
Davidson Middle School and the Raider Arena at Northwest Florida State College will open as shelters today, Thursday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m. to evacuating residents of Okaloosa County.
Residents can sign up for emergency alerts at AlertOkaloosa.com.
The county began offering free sandbags to the public Oct. 7 at 4 p.m. There are distribution centers located at Stillwell Park at 714 Essex Road in Fort Walton Beach and at the Okaloosa County Public Works Department at 1759 S. Ferdon Blvd. in Crestview.