By By Lisa Tindell – news writer
Tropical Storm Ernesto no longer threatens the Brewton area, but the storm did give local officials a dry run of sorts for hurricane preparation.
Weather officials at the National Hurricane Center predicted Ernesto will most likely move across the Florida Keys and make a northward turn and travel up the eastern seaboard as it dissipates into a tropical wave.
Still, Monday found a group of officials gathering in Escambia County to consider their storm preparations.
Emergency Management Director David Adams was in agreement.
Monday's meeting gave area officials a chance to discuss what they need to do in the event of any storm.
One area that both agencies discussed was the problem with traffic when evacuation routes are congested through the county.
Smith said that there are more than a half million residents south of the state line that evacuate through the county when a storm heads this way.
Atmore and Flomaton have made some preparations in the traffic control areas Adams said.
Looking at other areas of preparedness, Smith said the county's patrolmen, office workers and other personnel will be on &#8220on-call” status.
Smith and Adams also made arrangements to test and/or service generators, chain saws and other equipment should they be needed.