Approaching storm prompts school, government closures Tuesday
County government offices, as well as Franklin County Schools, will be closed Tuesday, as severe weather is expected over the next 36 hours.
The emergency management office said the first wave will impact Franklin County between about midnight and 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9.
The second, more significant wave will arrive at about 9 a.m. and last until the midafternoon.
Hazards include the potential for tornadoes, flooding, and winds of 70-80 mph.
Due to the saturation of the ground, it will be easier for trees to fall in the wind. If you come across a fallen tree or tree limb, Do Not touch it. It may hide an active power line and can pose an electrocution hazard.
As of the time of this publication, Franklin County is under a Wind Advisory until 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Due to these conditions, Franklin County Schools, Project Impact, the NEST in Eastpoint and Carrabelle, the property appraiser, tax collector and county government offices will be closed Tuesday
People in areas prone to coastal and/or riverine flooding, are asked to secure belongings and be ready to move to higher ground.
As a result of the elevated wind speeds, the possibility exists for bridges throughout Franklin County to be closed to all traffic. This will occur if the wind achieves a sustained speed of 45mph. Please keep this in mind and monitor wind conditions throughout the day.
If you must travel, use extreme caution as conditions can change very quickly.
Please report any power outages to Duke Energy by calling (850) 769-3766 or visiting their website.
Pay close attention to beach flags; if red flags are flying, stay out of the water.
Make sure to monitor the local news, WOYS, and Franklin County Emergency Management Facebook page for updates. Sign up for AlertFranklin for real time updates regarding weather conditions and road closures.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.