City of Pensacola Beach
Office of the Mayor
To: The Mayor
From: Mary Backer, Assistant to the Mayor
Regarding: Hurricane season so far.
Here is the information you asked for regarding the hurricane season. Our residents have already been through two hurricanes this season.
Hurricane Allison:
- The season's first named storm developed nearly four months ago. It hit Florida in early June - earlier in the hurricane season than any other hurricane on record. This was a first sign that this would be an active hurricane year.
- Allison came ashore near Apalachicola, about 140 miles East of here in the center of the Florida Panhandle.
- The storm was a minimal hurricane with 75 mph winds. Damage was light.
- Allison caused minor flooding. Damage statewide: $800,000.
Hurricane Erin:
- Developed in the Atlantic just over two months ago. It hit Florida twice. The first hit was on the Atlantic coastline, around the city of Vero Beach. Erin then crossed over central Florida and went into the Gulf of Mexico. From there, it slammed into our area the next day.
- Erin packed 85 mph winds and 110 mph gusts. It killed 11 people and caused widespread power outages. Wind and flood damage extended around the Pensacola area.
- The storm washed sailboats up on teh beach, damaged condos, tore down power lines and covered roads in sand.
- Total regional damage: $700 million.
- Caught many residents by surprise. When Erin hit Vero Beach, the storm was weak and did little damage. But the storm gained strength when it crossed into the warm Gulf waters. When it came ashore here, it was a stronger storm.
Erin was an interesting storm, since many local residents were forced to ride it out. The storm's fast re-strengthening did not give us enough time to clear the island.
These residents survived and had different reactions - some say they will never ride out another storm, some say it was no problem.
If you do decide to order a mandatory evactuation, it must be very soon. The inland roads are already converged with all the people trying to evacuate. If people do not leave immediately, they may be stuck in their cars during the storm - not a safe place to be!
Click here to read the next memo:
Emergency Manager: "Our barrier island is at risk."