Tropical Storm Fred Info & Updates

Walton County BCC Issues Local State of Emergency for Tropical Storm Fred

In an emergency meeting of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners, held today, August 13, 2021, at 9:00am, the Walton County BCC issued a Local State of Emergency for the potential impacts of Tropical Storm Fred.

At this time, Walton County is not under an Evacuation Orders and no shelters are open. Decisions on evacuation orders and shelter openings may be made at a later date based upon storm track and intensity.

To find your evacuation zone, please visit: https://bit.ly/2E3lnyC

Now is the time to act. Please make sure that you have the following prepared:

* Disaster Supply Kit - Disaster Supply Kit | Walton County, FL - Home Page
* Know your Family Plan - Making a Family Plan | Walton County, FL - Home Page
* Register for Emergency Alerts - http://www.alertwalton.org<http://www.alertwalton.org/>
* Social Media: www.facebook.com/WaltonCountyEM<Log into Facebook>

Walton County Emergency Management
Sunday August 15 update

Here's the latest FAQ for #TropicalStormFred. Walton County School District, Florida has CLOSED WALTON SCHOOLS on Monday, August 16th. Closures on Tuesday are being evaluated as the system progresses.

National Weather Service Tallahassee
Aug 15 11am

⚠️Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued for portions of the Florida Panhandle and western Florida Big Bend. Tropical Storm Watches have also been issued for portions of SE Alabama! Please listen to your local officials ahead of Tropical Storm Freds arrival! ⚠️

Two points.

1) You're watching the wrong storm.
2) This is why I moved to SW FL.

Two points.

1) You're watching the wrong storm.
2) This is why I moved to SW FL.

Is this the ghost of Shelley?

Is this the ghost of Shelley?

Did she move to SW FL?

Walton County Emergency Management
Aug 15 update

Some key takeaways after the US National Weather Service Tallahassee Florida briefing:

Fred is strengthening and now has maximum sustained winds of 45MPH. Additional strengthening is expected and could be a STRONG Tropical Storm at landfall. The threat of tropical storm forced winds has increased from earlier today.

Walton County is under a Tropical Storm WARNING and Flash Flood WATCH.

Threat for wind, rain, and surge impacts in our region have continued to increase. Get a plan and be prepared.

Surge predictions are still at 1-3 feet and we do not anticipate opening a shelter at this time. If impacts of both wind and/or surge present issue, we will reevaluate.

Walton County Emergency Management Opens Citizen Information Center for Tropical Storm Fred

In order to provide information to the public, the Walton County Emergency Management Department has opened up the Walton County Citizen Information Center.

This center can provide information to the public regarding Tropical Storm Fred.

The center can be reached at 850-892-8382.

SWFD update
Monday August 16

Here comes #Fred... Walton County is under a Tropical Storm Warning, as well as a Flash Flood Watch.

SWFD Critical Operations remain fully staffed for Monday, August 16th. However, our administrative offices are closed and beach bonfire permits are suspended.

Follow TRUSTED weather sources for up-to-date information. Walton County Emergency Management has opened up the Walton County Citizen Information Center, which can be reached at 850-892-8392, for information related to Tropical Storm Fred.

We're here for you! ☔️

US National Weather Service Tallahassee Florida

US National Weather Service Tallahassee
Monday August 16

Aug 16 - 5am ET Update on #Fred. The track has shifted east slightly with the update this morning and some additional strengthening before landfall remains possible. Advertised impacts have largely remained constant (and we'll go through those impacts below).

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are beginning to move onshore across our coastal counties and expect these conditions to move inland through the morning and afternoon ahead of Fred's landfall later today. These are some of the impacts folks should already be prepared for.

RAIN: Amounts have come up and shifted north and east some with this update. Storm total amounts are forecast to be 4 to 8 inches, but isolated locations under training storms could see up to 12 inches of total rainfall. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect

SURGE: The surge forecast remained unchanged overnight. The highest values are still expected to be across the Apalachee Bay later this evening during high tide. Up to 3-5 feet of inundation is possible from Indian Pass east to the Steinhatchee River.

BEACH: High surf warnings are now in effect with surf heights of 7 to 12 feet possible. You should NOT be in the water today.

TORNADO: As with most tropical systems there is usually a threat for tornadoes, #Fred is no exception. The threat will be greatest across our FL counties today, but all locations across our forecast area are at risk for a few tornadoes.

#ALwx #GAwx #FLwx #TropicalStormFred weather.gov/tallahassee

Walton County Emergency Management
331 Bridge

WHAT ABOUT THE 331 BRIDGE????

Decisions on bridge closures are not made by the Walton County Emergency Department. Bridge closures are determined by the Florida Department of Transportation in coordination with Florida Highway Patrol.

As a storm approaches, sustained winds over 40 miles per hour can prompt the closure of high profile bridges. The state Emergency Operations Center receives regular wind status updates from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), monitoring the wind speeds across bridges. The Florida Highway Patrol will close bridges once wind speeds become high enough to create dangerous driving conditions for motorists.

We do not receive any prior warning regarding the potential closure of the bridge.

If FDOT and FHP make the determination to close the 331 Bridge, we will put out announcements as soon as we are notified.

Walton County Launches Real-time Road Closure List

In order to keep the public informed about road closures in the area, Walton County has created a real-time road closure list.

While this list will be used for Tropical Storm Fred, it remain live for daily updates including construction related closures.

The road closure list can be accessed from the Walton County homepage at Walton County, FL - Home Page | Official Website or directly at Walton County Road Closures.

Fred looks to be passing to the east of us. If so we may escape the brunt, but still too close to tell.

Looking like landfall at Cape San Blas / Port St. Joe, Mexico Beach.

Looking like landfall at Cape San Blas / Port St. Joe, Mexico Beach.

Another place we loved and left right before this...

Roads Gone...and Much of Everything Else As well

Is this the ghost of Shelley?

Old sig-But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop.
New sig-But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop.

Note that the spacing is identical, and the unusual capitalization of Ramen, Granite, and Countertop. The old sig was actually in comic sans font, but I don 't think that font is available anymore.

It's breezy with a steady northerly that has flattened surf near shore.

simple copy paste. A fraud!

simple copy paste. A fraud!

He might be a very good man, but he's a very bad wizard.