By Staff
Gov. Bob Riley granted the authority to the Escambia County Commission and the Escambia County Sheriff to issue a MANDATORY CURFEW effective from midnight, Saturday, July 9, 2005, until noon on Monday. On Monday evening a nightly curfew will also be effective each night thereafter from 9 pm to 5 am until it is determined that the curfew can be lifted. This means that beginning at midnight tonight, there should not be anyone on the streets of Escambia County and residents should remain in a safe shelter until the end of the curfew. The curfew is being issued for the safety of motorists and public safety personnel. Exceptions to the curfew will be made on a case by case basis. Evacuees will be granted an exception until the winds reach 40 miles an hour.
When the winds reach 40 miles per hour emergency response vehicles (police, fire, and ambulances) will not be able to respond until the winds decrease below 40 miles per hour.
It is projected that the winds will reach 40 miles an hour sometime between 10 am and 11 am Sunday morning.
Once the storm has passed, unless it is an absolute emergency, do not venture out just to see the damage. The more vehicles that are out, the longer it will take emergency personnel to clear the roads. There will be plenty of opportunities later to view the storm's damage.
Sheriff Smith said, "The decision to impose a curfew was a difficult one for everyone, especially since it would interfere with Sunday worship services. However, the winds are forecast to reach an unsafe level by mid-morning Sunday."