‘We have met, made preliminary preparations for Hurricane Michael, and we have declared a state of emergency for Washington County, Florida’, said Washington County Commissioner for District 4 Todd Abbott this morning in Wausau, Florida.
On Monday morning, October 8, 2018 at the Washington County Emergency Operations Center the Washington County Board of Commissioners met to discuss the storm and potential storm shelters, as well as participate in a conference call with the State of Florida Emergency Operations Center.
Washington County Schools will have Early Release tomorrow (Tuesday, October 9, 2018) at 1PM for students and staff (excluding the District Office).
Due to pending Hurricane Michael ALL facilities will be CLOSED on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 for students and all employees. All after school events are cancelled for Tuesday and Wednesday and information about Thursday will be forthcoming.
Abbott, who is spending a large portion of his time at the Emergency Operations Center along with Washington County Commission Chair Tray Hawkins, expressed that people should stay aware of the potential for damages and flooding caused by this storm, taking all necessary precautions and ensuring a safe and plentiful supply of water, food and medications.
‘We will potentially have trees and power lines down all over the Florida Panhandle as a result of this storm’, said Abbott during a break in the meeting on Monday, ‘and citizens should exercise all due caution and stay off the roads once the storm starts to hit us in earnest’.
Tracy Andrews, City Councilperson for the City of Chipley, Florida echoed Abbott’s sentiments about safety precautions.
‘The last thing we need are people driving around unnecessarily, looking at the effects of the storm, while our crews are on the roads trying to clean up power lines and downed trees’, said Andrews, who also mentioned the need to prepare for the storm by securing water and food for the duration of the storm event.
‘Sand bags are currently being furnished and filled by Washington County and the municipalities’, added Commissioner Tray Hawkins, ‘and they are currently available in Vernon as well as the other municipalities in Washington County’.
‘Our staff will be here at the Emergency Operations Center, along with the Sheriff Department, Emergency Medical Services, and Fire Departments’, finished Hawkins, ‘and anyone needing additional information should not hesitate to contact us if needed’.
Additional updates will be forthcoming from the National Weather Service, Washington County, Florida officials and the City of Chipley, as this storm is tracked and preparations are made.
