[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6252502,"mediaKeyId","3188037-066a531d7b61a2e4a875ebcdcf25da42","parentId",3188037,"title","Utilities, sheriff and public works outline restoration priorities, volunteer roles and EV safety after storms","audioSeconds",717,"startMs",6363000,"endMs",7080000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188037-066a531d7b61a2e4a875ebcdcf25da42&start=6363&end=7080","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188037-066a531d7b61a2e4a875ebcdcf25da42/thumbnail_6363000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6252502/Florida/Utilities-sheriff-and-public-works-outline-restoration-priorities-volunteer-roles-and-EV-safety-after-storms","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252502-54b3a2dbb6c75d8dbab15662fbdeae84/orig.mp4?Expires=1770398577&Signature=Om2spq8y1hA31~8Dba5SzeLxKbBVQr4HhH7zZRqzEzM5~kaVuh78O0PONEaA1OA5MANeyUS9Lb0NYgfYmbpmV5lfwiqXc7AnAZKTcK~MxkHFUlw7esQ8yvh9v3BDzs5eZpyP9WKREXHhcJ2dNFZ0K1ms0yj7BvENt3cZtqPvN0E1IyGRlVctPw29Nl~TYjBtKjX8chbSyaEENkwIuUURvVJzSfSvHt0lPXImG6XGir38UjMKbzw4kg6c3M4TsbJ63vRjnkgvYkt989Ti6bn8VGnu-1W9q0aatvJEWRxYG7JixemICv7BaSf-eN2j~uXPzvydQo5lAF60gMV7biZ1zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Okaloosa County, FL ","date","2025-05-04T07:11:57.34Z","article","Representatives from Florida Power & Light, Okaloosa Gas, the county water and sewer department, the sheriff’s office and county emergency management described restoration priorities and post-storm safety at a public panel.

\"We start from the power plant and we make sure that the lines from the power plant to the substations have power to be able to create the ... power that's created onward,\" said Laura Blair of Florida Power & Light, describing utility restoration sequencing that prioritizes generation and transmission, then critical infrastructure such as hospitals and emergency operations, then neighborhoods in order to restore service to the greatest number of customers quickly.

Mike Hackett of the water and sewer division said most wells and tanks have generators and that the distribution system is engineered so other sources can feed affected areas, but he warned that loss of power can reduce pressure and that sewer lift stations (57 in the system) do not all have generator backup. \"If there is a power issue ... the only water we're going to have is what's in the tank,\" Hackett said, urging conservation if a power loss affects pumping.

Chris Heaston of Okaloosa Gas District said the main concerns are damage that exposes or severs underground mains (for example from erosion or bridge damage) and service-line damage from uprooted trees. Heaston said the gas system has excess-flow valves on service lines to limit uncontrolled releases at individual service connections and that the system’s five supply inputs are north of I‑10, reducing supply interruption risk.

Major Kirkpatrick of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office outlined operational limits for responders during extreme winds. He said agencies may suspend nonessential responses at certain sustained wind thresholds because emergency vehicles cannot safely operate; residents should not expect immediate response to nonlife-threatening calls while storm conditions make travel unsafe.

Panelists also addressed specific resident actions: fill bathtubs for water needs before evacuating, turn off water heaters at breakers, conserve water if pumps lose power, sign up for utility outage reporting (FPL app or 1-800 number; Okaloosa County’s emergency lines), and move electric vehicles to higher ground where possible because saltwater flooding can create post-storm fire risks. Volunteers were encouraged but advised to register with county volunteer desks so assignments and safety training (for example chainsaw work) can be managed.

Officials said utilities and partner crews stage mutual-aid resources nearby and then enter the county after the storm passes; residents should expect staged convoys of crews and should be patient as logistics and access are sorted. For immediate non-life-threatening operational questions during activations, the county’s citizen information line and the emergency operations center’s public desk will provide updated status and guidance.

The panel closed with uniform advice: make a household plan, evacuate if advised, and be patient and prepared to be self-sufficient for several days while crews prioritize life-safety and critical infrastructure restoration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 Hurricane Preparedness Expo","oneSentenceSummary","A utilities-and-first-responders panel at an Okaloosa County preparedness event described how power, gas, water and sewer are prioritized after storms, how and when crews deploy, and safety guidance for electric vehicles and generators.","taxTitle","Events, Okaloosa County, Florida","taxId",72826,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252505,"National Weather Service advises Okaloosa residents: 'All it takes is one storm' — focus on local impacts, surge and rapid intensification",722,3148000,3870000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188037-066a531d7b61a2e4a875ebcdcf25da42&start=3148&end=3870","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188037-066a531d7b61a2e4a875ebcdcf25da42/thumbnail_3148000.jpg","/articles/6252505/Florida/National-Weather-Service-advises-Okaloosa-residents-All-it-takes-is-one-storm-focus-on-local-impacts-surge-and-rapid-intensification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252505-1f06bfcd1aad0494bfad1c74689d4693/orig.mp4?Expires=1770398577&Signature=gzGj-pLsaPS2wa2wNaToMnSvRfpLygzSrEalY7rLs7p9e8zO45LtebnIBs-pSZ8t4935DtyH7AsY96~UBuGsx9k2zoGs3a0OHb3dtckqWGz9RII4S~GGtrIbrNARsetRwyPJ6RkYSAcEHGKzJNXJWq8vSRFmAJgUntaCY~2jNNVXgeeq0lfOpCMrxIwRwvjA7yiEax8p-D8Qe~cN38ZntzLilXpkrMbmwwrUzbg8grJCht3hTrfNJ~Pl7r5grbbVyiuKDCDrbXU6~D4NzEGlcrW-meZpGQ9q~PSP2hd~B9jBMNsm0a6clBKOx6vyhUUWLB4C3GT9ZfUSfdPhhCiTGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jason Beeman, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Mobile, told an Okaloosa County audience that seasonal hurricane outlooks do not replace local impact forecasts and urged residents to prepare for local outcomes rather than rely on seasonal counts. \"All it takes is 1 storm to be a bad season for us,\" Beeman said.

Beeman explained that NWS local offices translate the National Hurricane Center’s broad track and intensity forecasts into county-level expected impacts. He warned that the familiar forecast cone shows only the probable path of a storm’s center, not the full area of impacts. \"That cone is only talking about where the center of the storm is likely to go,\" Beeman said, and he added that impacts such as storm surge, rainfall and tornadoes can extend well outside the cone.

The meteorologist emphasized storm surge complexity, noting that surge depends more on a storm’s size and exact track than on its categorical intensity. Beeman used Hurricane Michael as an example of how small track changes can produce major differences in local surge. He described NWS potential-storm-surge maps that estimate how much water could inundate specific locations and urged residents to consult those maps to assess risk to individual properties.

Beeman also discussed rapid intensification and limits in intensity forecasting. He said forecasting a storm’s track has improved, but intensity — how strong winds will be at landfall — remains harder to predict. \"When we talk about rapid intensification, it's a real thing,\" he said, and recommended residents build in a safety margin for planning because intensity forecasts can change quickly in the final days before landfall.

On messaging and public alerts, Beeman recommended redundant ways of receiving weather information — weather radio, local television partners, official NWS products and county emergency-management channels — and warned against relying on single social-media model runs or unvetted long-range posts. He advised that significant local details typically become clearer in the 3–5 day window before landfall, with watches and warnings generally issued within 48–36 hours as appropriate.

Beeman closed by directing residents to the local NWS page (weather.gov/mob) and social accounts for timely local updates and to county resources for preparedness guidance.","The National Weather Service in Mobile cautioned that seasonal outlooks are not a substitute for local forecasts, emphasized storm-surge maps and warned about rapid intensification and the forecasting limits for intensity versus track.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252508,"Okaloosa emergency management urges early evacuation planning, explains EOC activations and shelters",560,1210000,1770000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188037-066a531d7b61a2e4a875ebcdcf25da42&start=1210&end=1770","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188037-066a531d7b61a2e4a875ebcdcf25da42/thumbnail_1210000.jpg","/articles/6252508/Florida/Okaloosa-emergency-management-urges-early-evacuation-planning-explains-EOC-activations-and-shelters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252508-f55f5e139f53663f5d4877fb5bf4bc49/orig.mp4?Expires=1770398577&Signature=jx~PihxzXvZUwyUrKgCFCgvrKQqZXRjFpm02lhogSO6Bc3xb4rrqLDDGSwlT6aYiadUwhbWF8SQTyuSDTyHketjcVij3agwY8Udawdyrl1BCL4hVC1gsVEflt4f0TILyhwQuWAi9ulpEWUddflfgh66sgTmvBHM8YMAnnQnNP7rJpTKoO7KLk9wycfjO8ZMm1H-SJjwOXmQL6M1LZEVV49HcmotJTKVs9mA6mMSVbjBZm-SdM4fgh0rdkkW~~7wbuR-F5E7JxSvwAtyBmZ4DtagUB4iENpY97GBPbojlQRecGNDyQaYMC5~5FBlPBQWyVa~f1VA~gpp-cyg~03f1SA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pat Maddox, Okaloosa County emergency management chief, told residents at a county preparedness presentation that personal planning and early evacuation are critical during hurricane season. \"Know your evacuation routes,\" Maddox said, and he directed listeners to the county’s emergency management web resources for shelter locations and the special-needs registry.

Maddox said Okaloosa County covers more than 930 square miles of land and about 152 miles of barrier beaches, and that the county’s evacuation strategy is tailored to that geography and to a large seasonal population. \"We know that we can evacuate the county complete in about 48 hours solid,\" Maddox said, adding that the county plans to phase evacuations by removing tourists and hotel guests first to speed traffic. He said officials often add another day to theoretical evacuation models because construction and traffic can slow evacuation flows.

The emergency operations center (EOC) uses a three-level activation system, Maddox said: level 3 is normal daily operations, level 2 is enhanced activation for command staff, and level 1 is full activation when the county requests widespread partner support. If a local state of emergency is declared, Maddox said, the EOC will staff up to cover 21 emergency support functions and bring in partners including fire departments, the military and utilities to coordinate response and public information.

Maddox warned residents that water is the deadliest hazard in tropical systems and urged obedience to evacuation guidance. \"High from the wind, run from the water. Do not attempt to cross fast moving water,\" he said, explaining that roads can be washed out and appear passable while undermined.

For people with mobility or medical needs, Maddox and staff pointed to a special-needs registry maintained through the county and linked from the emergency-management website; County staff and the Florida Department of Health can coordinate transport and sheltering for people who register. Maddox also described the county’s plan to open shelters according to the estimated arrival of tropical-storm-force conditions and to avoid routing people into unsafe conditions during evacuations.

County public information processes were described as threefold during activations: the county website, social media, and feeds to local broadcast media. Maddox asked residents to sign up for local alert systems (Nixle/AlertOkaloosa) and follow official county and sheriff’s social channels for consolidated, vetted messaging during events.

The presentation closed with reminders to rehearse family plans annually, include pets and medication needs in planning, and use official county resources rather than unverified social-media forecasts.

Residents with specific access or medical needs were directed to the county emergency-management page and the special-needs registry for pre-storm planning and contact information.","Okaloosa County emergency management outlined evacuation timing, phased tourist-first evacuations, EOC activation levels, shelter guidance and special-needs registries at a public preparedness talk.","actionData","errors"]

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Utilities, sheriff and public works outline restoration priorities, volunteer roles and EV safety after storms

National Weather Service advises Okaloosa residents: 'All it takes is one storm' — focus on local impacts, surge and rapid intensification

Okaloosa emergency management urges early evacuation planning, explains EOC activations and shelters