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.