Okaloosa County Water & Sewer will begin shutting off drinking water mains and sewage lift stations on Okaloosa Island at 12 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. The county says the move protects the system from a forecast 7 to 9 foot storm surge and will speed restoration after the storm.
Okaloosa County Water & Sewer will start shutting down multiple drinking water mains and sewage lift stations on Okaloosa Island beginning at 12 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, according to a release from Okaloosa County Public Information Officer Nick Tomecek.
The island has been under a mandatory evacuation order since Oct. 8. Storm surge from Hurricane Isaias is forecast at 7 to 9 feet, which the county says would cause a complete loss of the water and sewer system if it remains on when the surge arrives.
The county is urging anyone still on the island to prepare now by securing a personal water supply and filling bathtubs with water for flushing toilets.
Shutting the systems down ahead of the storm will allow the county to restore water and sewer service as quickly as possible once Isaias passes.
Okaloosa County’s Emergency Operations Center posts current updates at myokaloosa.com/eoc/home. The county’s Hurricane Guide and other preparedness resources are available at myokaloosa.com/ps/emergency-management, and updates are also shared on the county’s Facebook page at facebook.com/OkaloosaCounty.
Written from
Written and reported by Emerald Coast Connected.