Stories by Collin Bestor
Stories by Collin Bestor
Three things you need to know ahead of Santa Rosa County commissioners’ meeting
For the first time since September, the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners’ meeting will return to its normal schedule following Hurricane Isaias.
The board will host a planning meeting on Nov. 10, followed by a regular meeting Nov. 12.
Here are three things you need to know ahead of the meetings this week.
Local officials say cleanup costs estimated to reach $51.5 million
As Santa Rosa County is past the two-week mark of Hurricane Isaias’ landfall, the county is now working on the months-long chore of cleanup, a task that local officials say could cost them at least $50 million combined.
That task involves clearing roads, both public and private, along with clearing debris from the Town of Jay, which was approved by the Board of County Commissioners Oct. 20.
Hurricane Isaias exposed flaws in Santa Rosa’s 911 infrastructure
Hurricane Isaias knocked out both generators at Santa Rosa County’s Emergency Operations Center as it made landfall Oct. 9, forcing the county to relocate 911 dispatchers mid-storm, said County Administrator Brad Baker at a Board of County Commissioners meeting on Oct. 20.
FEMA Individual Assistance approved for Santa Rosa, Okaloosa
Santa Rosa and Okaloosa residents who sustained damage from Hurricane Isaias can now seek direct financial aid from the federal government after FEMA approved individual assistance for the region on Oct. 29.
Santa Rosa School Board votes to move school opening date to Oct. 19
The Santa Rosa County School Board heard from numerous parents and teachers Oct. 13 advocating or school not to reopen the next day.
Santa Rosa schools to reopen Wednesday after Isaias
Santa Rosa County public schools will reopen Wednesday, Oct. 14, under a state directive, even though Hurricane Isaias damaged several campuses, including Milton High School, where the storm tore open the gym’s roof.
Santa Rosa sheriff orders curfew after Isaias knocks out power, traffic lights
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson ordered a countywide dusk-to-dawn curfew Oct. 10, citing the threat of looting and dangerous intersections as Hurricane Isaias left most of the county without power and most of its traffic signals.
Isaias makes landfall, Santa Rosa looks to begin recovery efforts
Santa Rosa County’s 911 center is still fielding multiple reports of severely damaged homes, but emergency crews cannot yet reach callers as Hurricane Isaias begins to quickly move out of the area.
Hurricane Isaias makes landfall as Category 2
The National Hurricane Center announced that Hurricane Isaias made landfall as a Category 2 storm near Destin, Friday night. Isaias weakened in the final hours before landfall, slamming into Okaloosa County with 105 mph winds. Even with the storm now moving out of our area at 19 mph, the all-clear has not been given. It […]
National Hurricane Center: 7 p.m. advisory
The National Hurricane Center has issued it’s 7 p.m. advisory for Hurricane Isaias. In this update, the storm has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm with winds of 110 mph. It is currently 45 miles southeast of Pensacola and moving north at 10 mph. There are no changes in term of local impacts in […]












