Santa Rosa tallies $247M in self-reported Isaias damage; three libraries reopen Monday

Santa Rosa County‘s Hurricane Isaias Update #17, posted Sunday, Oct. 18, gives the county’s first tally of storm damage and lists practical steps for residents. The figures come from self-reports filed with the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser, not from verified inspections.

How much damage has Santa Rosa County reported?

As of Friday, Oct. 16, more than 3,800 self-reports to the Property Appraiser’s damage form estimated more than $247 million in damage, according to Update #17. The update reports these structure counts, also as of Oct. 16:

Category	Structures, as of Oct. 16
Destroyed	more than 100
Major damage	more than 400
Minor damage	more than 1,000
Affected	more than 7,000

Residents can file or update a report at srcpa.gov/search by finding the property and clicking the Report Damage button under the Owner Information section. The update says an exact repair estimate is not required.

Where can residents drop off storm vegetation for free?

The Central Landfill, at 6337 Da Lisa Road in Milton, accepts vegetative debris at no cost Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to Update #17. Keep household garbage separate from storm debris.

The Jay Transfer Station is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It accepts cash only for now. The update does not say whether Jay charges for vegetation.

Regular household garbage pickup continues on each provider’s schedule. The county asks residents to put spoiled food in regular garbage containers, not in storm debris piles.

How much debris does the county expect to remove?

The first pass of debris pickup on publicly maintained roads began Wednesday, Oct. 14. The county estimates 1.5 million cubic yards of debris and says more than one pass will be needed.

Which libraries are open?

As of Oct. 18, according to the county’s library page and Update #17:

Location	Status
Jay Library	Reopens Monday, Oct. 19, regular hours
Pace Library	Reopens Monday, Oct. 19, regular hours
Gulf Breeze Library	Reopens Monday, Oct. 19, regular hours
Library Administration	Reopens Monday, Oct. 19, regular hours
Milton Library	Closed; expected to reopen Monday, Oct. 26
Navarre Library	Closed until further notice
Family History and Research Center	Closed until further notice

The open libraries will have extra computers for residents to complete online forms and reach recovery assistance.

Who can help with storm cleanup?

Crisis Cleanup, coordinated by Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, connects residents with volunteer groups for roof tarping, tree removal, debris cleanup and mucking out flooded homes. Call 1-800-451-1954.

The Citizen Information Line, 850-983-INFO (4636), closed at 4 p.m. on Oct. 18. The update does not say when it will reopen. A list of community resources is posted at santarosa.fl.gov/1196/Hurricane-Isaias-Community-Resources.

What should residents avoid?

Do not call 911 to report downed trees or power lines, because those calls tie up lines needed for emergencies. Report downed power lines to the utility company.

Navarre Beach Pier reopening

The Navarre Beach Pier reopens daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. beginning Tuesday, Oct. 20, according to Update #17. Anglers should bring their own ice, because ice is unavailable until further notice. The update expects bait to be restocked by Thursday, Oct. 22.