Tuesday, October 13, 7:10 p.m. - Updates Highlighted

Santa Rosa County Offices

• Santa Rosa County offices will be opening Wednesday, October 14, with the exception of the libraries.
• The Central Landfill in Milton is open for regular operations. Credit and debit cards are being accepted.
• Keep household garbage separate. Regular household garbage collection will continue according to schedules established by residential waste service providers. Household trash, including spoiled food, should be placed in regular garbage containers and never mixed with storm debris. Please remove all spoiled food and clean out refrigerators and freezers before disposal. 
• The Jay Transfer Station is for regular operating hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Cash only will be accepted at this time.
• TetraTech, Santa Rosa County's debris monitor, is hiring debris monitors to assist with storm debris removal. Learn more online at https://disasterrecoveryhiring.com.
• The Navarre Beach Boardwalk Workshop, scheduled for Monday, October 19, will be rescheduled. The rescheduled date will be sent out once it's finalized.
• The Board of County Commissioners Committee meeting on Tuesday, October 20 will be a Regular meeting.
• The October 22 Special Rezoning Meeting will be rescheduled to Tuesday, November 10.
• The Building Code Board of Adjustment meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 14 will be rescheduled to November. The rescheduled date will be sent out once it's finalized.
• The First Judicial Circuit and all Clerk of Court offices will be closed through Friday, October 16, and reopen on Monday, October 19. Any domestic violence injunction hearing will be continued to next Wednesday, October 21. Jurors summoned for this week do not need to report.
• The Supervisor of Elections offices in Milton and Gulf Breeze will open Wednesday, October 14, from 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. 
• The Tax Collector's office will be closed on Wednesday, October 14, and tentatively reopen on Thursday, October 15.
• The Property Appraiser's office will be closed on Wednesday, October 14, and reopen on Thursday, October 15.

Santa Rosa District Schools

The Santa Rosa County School Board unanimously voted at this morning’s regularly scheduled School Board meeting to remain closed through Friday, October 16th. School will resume on Monday, October 19th. This extension will allow for continued work at our school sites to ensure safety for our students and staff and provide additional time for our community to recover.

If there are specific schools on Monday still without power or where restoration work has not been completed, families will be notified in advance. The school calendar will be adjusted as a result of the additional days of closure. Visit the school district website for information about closures and openings. https://www.santarosaschools.org/.

Navarre Beach

Visitors to the beach should use caution; some areas still have damage and should be avoided.

Navarre Beach Utilities

Water has been restored to Navarre Beach. A precautionary boil water notice is in place for all restored water. This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink. Residents may begin returning to their homes.

Water Utilities with Boil Water Notice

The following water utility companies have a boil water notice in place for ALL customers:

• City of Milton Water
• Navarre Beach Water
• Town of Jay
• Bagdad Garcon Point Water

Navarre Pier

The Navarre Pier sustained damage and will be closed until further notice.

Road Closures

Most roads in Santa Rosa County are passable but not completely clear. Do not travel unless necessary. Crews are working as quickly as possible to clear roadways. Current road closures can be found online at https://santarosa.fl.gov/293/Current-Road-Bridge-Closures.

County Parks

All county parks are closed until further notice due to damage. Residents are asked to not visit the park or allow children to play on damaged equipment and structures.

Report Property Damage

Residents are asked to report property damage through the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser's website. Search for your property by either name or street address at https://srcpa.gov/search and use the "Report Damage" button found under the "Owner Information section on your parcel page. If searching by street address, use abbreviations - Dr for Drive, St for Street, Blvd for Boulevard, etc.

Citizen Information Line

The Santa Rosa County Citizen Information Line, 850-983-INFO (4636), is available for questions. Do NOT call 911 to report downed trees or power lines. These calls tie up lines meant for emergency calls.



Debris

As Santa Rosa County continues recovery efforts following Hurricane Isaias, residents are asked to follow storm debris collection guidelines to help ensure a safe and efficient cleanup process. The first pass of debris pickup is anticipated to start on Wednesday, October 14, on publicly maintained roads. Santa Rosa County has an estimated 1.7 million cubic yards of vegetative debris, with about 1.3 million of that being north of I-10.

Residents should place storm-generated debris along the public right-of-way, generally the area between the street and the sidewalk, ditch, utility pole, or easement. Proper placement and separation of debris will help collection crews work safely and efficiently. There is no size restriction. Keep piles consolidated by debris types (vegetative and C&D) and take care not to let any piles spill over into the street.

If you hire a contractor to cut or remove fallen trees, the contractor is responsible for hauling away all debris. Debris from contractor-performed work should not be placed on the right-of-way for county debris pickup.

Residents should follow these guidelines when preparing debris for collection:

• Separate debris by type. Place vegetative debris, such as tree limbs, branches, leaves, and shrubbery, in a separate pile from construction and demolition debris, such as damaged building materials like fencing and sheds. These materials will be collected separately.
• Do not bag storm debris. Only loose debris will be collected. Bagged debris should not be placed along the public right-of-way.
• Keep debris away from utilities and obstructions. Do not place debris near drainage ditches, storm drains, mailboxes, water meters, fire hydrants, low-hanging tree limbs, power lines, transformers, or other utilities. Keep roadways clear for emergency vehicles and other traffic.
• Leave remaining debris for subsequent collection passes. Only storm debris placed along the public right-of-way is currently eligible for collection. If debris is not removed during the initial pass, keep remaining materials properly separated and accessible for subsequent collection.
• Keep household garbage separate. Regular household garbage collection will continue according to schedules established by residential waste service providers. Household trash, including spoiled food, should be placed in regular garbage containers and never mixed with storm debris.

Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE)

BRACE is coordinating with national disaster relief organizations, local community partners, and our Long-Term Recovery Groups to connect Escambia and Santa Rosa County residents with much-needed assistance. Through Crisis Cleanup, residents can be connected with volunteer organizations that may be able to assist with:

• Roof tarping
• Tree removal
• Debris cleanup
• Mucking out flooded homes
• Other storm cleanup needs

CALL CRISIS CLEANUP: 1-800-451-1954

Florida Department of Health

The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County (DOH-Santa Rosa) will open only the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) office and the Vital Statistics office in Milton, Florida, with limited operating hours on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. 

• WIC Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. to Noon
• Vital Statistics Office Hours: 8 a.m. to Noon

Hours and services for Thursday and Friday will be shared in a separate update.

For more information, please call DOH-Santa Rosa at 850-983-5200.

Illegal Contractors

Below are a few things to know before working with a contractor:

• Use licensed, insured contractors. Verify licenses at MyFloridaLicense.com and report unlicensed activity to 1-866-532-1440. The Disaster Contractors Network (DCNOnline.org) can help you find repair contractors.
• Florida's price gouging law is in effect during the state of emergency. It covers essential goods and services, including food, ice, water, fuel, lodging, lumber, and repairs. Price increases must reflect your own higher costs or broader market trends. Report gouging to 1-866-966-7226.
• Insurance: photograph damage before cleanup, and keep receipts and records of lost business days. Florida Department of Financial Services Insurance Helpline: 1-877-693-5236. Claims guidance: MyFloridaCFO.com/division/ica/isaias. An in-person Insurance Assistance Hub opened Oct. 12 at the Morgan Sports Center, 4200 Indian Bayou Trail, Destin.
• Report property damage to the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser: search your property at srcpa.gov/search, then use "Report Damage" on the parcel page.

Generator Safety

• If you are using a home-mounted generator following Hurricane Isaias, keep a clear area of at least 10 feet in diameter around the generator. Keep leaves, debris, and other combustible materials away from the unit, and never store items in or around the generator's operating area.
• Generators produce heat and can pose a fire hazard if flammable materials are too close. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and keep the generator properly maintained.
• Your safety matters. Please take a few minutes to check your generator and the area around it.

Mosquitos

Heavy rain can leave standing water in yards, kayaks, containers, tires, gutters, and other places around our homes. Even small amounts of water can provide mosquitoes with a place to breed. As mosquito activity increases, taking steps to prevent bites and reduce mosquito breeding becomes especially important.

• SPRAY to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
• COVER your skin and containers that hold water.
• DRAIN standing water whenever it is safe to do so.

These simple actions can help reduce mosquitoes around your home and lower the opportunity for mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue to spread.

Santa Rosa County Mosquito Control is expected to resume spraying operations on Wednesday, October 14.

Funding and Free Help for local businesses

• Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan: one-year, zero-interest loans of up to $100,000 (up to $150,000 for agriculture and aquaculture) to bridge the gap until insurance or longer-term funding comes through. For businesses established before the storm with up to 100 employees, physical damage or economic injury from Isaias, and owners with credit scores of 600 or higher. Owners personally guarantee the loan, and it must be repaid. Short-term rentals are not eligible. Apply by Nov. 25, 2026, or until funds run out.
• Apply: FloridaJobs.org/DisasterRecovery/EBL
• Have ready: owner ID (front and back), most recent business and personal tax returns, proof of employees (W-2s, 1099s, or Form 941), and a voided check.
• Questions: 1-833-832-4494 or EmergencyBridgeLoan@Commerce.fl.gov
• Florida SBDC at UWF: free, confidential consulting on recovery planning and financing options. 850-474-2528 | sbdc@uwf.edu
• State Private Sector Hotline: 850-815-4925, daily 7 a.m.-7 p.m., or ESF18@em.myflorida.com. Email that address for details on the state's daily private-sector briefings.
• Facing layoffs or a temporary closure? CareerSource EscaRosa's Rapid Response team can help you and your employees.
• Not available yet: SBA disaster loans; FEMA individual assistance, including Disaster Unemployment Assistance; and IRS or Florida Department of Revenue deadline relief. The current federal declaration covers government response costs only. We'll let you know if any of these open.

Loan Program for Florida Farmers Impacted by Hurricane Isaias

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that Florida farmers, ranchers, and growers impacted by Hurricane Isaias can now apply for interest-free loans. Eligible agriculture and aquaculture producers can apply for loans of up to $500,000 to restore, repair, or replace essential physical property, including fences, equipment, greenhouses, and other buildings, or to remove debris or restock aquaculture.

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/mrxubkh7

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.

Following Hurricane Isaias, 211 Northwest Florida is experiencing a high volume of calls from residents seeking recovery assistance and resources. Callers are encouraged to remain in the call queue, as your calls will be answered as soon as a team member becomes available. If prompted to leave a message, please do so, and a team member will return your call as soon as possible.

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Serving our community, committed to excellence.

www.santarosa.fl.gov