Tag: readies

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The City of Pensacola is announcing additional closures and cancellations as the winter storm nears.

City offices and facilities will now be operating at reduced capacity on Wednesday as well as Tuesday.

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves urges residents to stay off the roads once the snow begins Tuesday morning.

“For your safety and the safety of our city employees and first responder, please stay off the roads during and immediately following this extreme weather,” he said. “Our team is working around the clock and will continue to to do so to bring our roadways back to safe conditions. I ask that you please respect those efforts and the safety of your friends, family and neighbors.”

The closures include:

• City of Pensacola administrative offices, including departments and divisions not located at City Hall
• City Hall
• City of Pensacola community resource centers

Exceptions:

• Essential departments including Pensacola Fire Department and Pensacola Police Department will remain operational
• Pensacola International Airport will remain open. Check with airlines about potential flight delays. Pensacola International Airport Administration Offices will be closed.

“The City of Pensacola is ready to respond to this storm. However, much like following a tropical storm or hurricane, there will be delays in restoring services and clearing roadways,” the city said. “We ask for your patience as cleanup begins following the end of this winter storm.”

Starting Tuesday morning, Pensacola Police will have increased staffing “to ensure an effective law enforcement response to any emergency.”

The city says Pensacola Police is ready to assist and has proactively deployed their Community Response Specialist team to canvass areas of the city in search of unsheltered individuals seeking refuge from the severe winter weather. PPD can be reached by contacting the non emergency number (850) 435-1845 or 911 in an emergency.

Additionally, Pensacola Police has cold-weather supplies to offer to those who have declined offers of emergency shelter.

The Pensacola Fire Department will be staffed in both the north and south divisions:

• 2 additional engine companies, as well as command and logistics added
• 55 PFD fire/rescue personnel will be on duty during the winter storm, which is 18 over daily operations

City Public Works

Public Works crews have heavy equipment and vehicles ready to deploy sand and salt to de-ice the City’s priority roadways and bridges, such as the 12th Avenue Bridge and Summit Boulevard which are main corridors for emergency services.

Public Works is also coordinating with the local office of the Florida Department of Transportation to ensure anti-icing pre-treatment is done to all FDOT bridges and overpasses before the weather event occurs. The local interstates are a priority for these crews.

Nearly three dozen Public Works staff are standing by to deploy to ensure roadways are passable.

City Sanitation Services

City of Pensacola Sanitation Services is now currently planning on collecting Monday’s routes on Thursday and Tuesday’s routes on Friday.

Sanitation Services will have customer service representatives available to answer calls. They can be reached at 850-435-1890.