By By Adam Prestridge
Tropical Storm Fay has had its crosshairs aimed at Atmore and the rest of south Alabama all week.
Saturday, it will make its way into south Alabama and has everyone guessing what type of impact it will have on Escambia County and the surrounding areas.
Flooding is the main concern of Escambia County Emergency Management Agency director David Adams.
Adams has been releasing updates throughout the week to first responders and media outlets tracking Fay’s path. As of 5 p.m. Friday, it was continuing to move across Florida in a westerly direction at approximately 6 miles per hour and had sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, Adams said. The storm is still expected to track in a west or west-northwest direction for the next 24-36 hours. The storm should continue to lose some intensity as it passes over land, Adams said.
Although winds associated with the storm were strong Friday, Adams doesn’t believe wind will be much of a factor for Escambia County.
Adams said winds should begin to increase sometime Saturday and the rains should start Saturday afternoon with some showers earlier.
Should wind become an issue and cause power outages, Alabama Power Company officials are prepared to take action.
Fogarty, who said the Mobile Division of Alabama Power services 230,000 customers in Mobile, Escambia, Baldwin, Conecuh, Monroe, Choctaw, Marengo, Clarke and Washington counties, said flooding can cause some outages if substations are submerged by rising water.
As with any strong storm, Adams said isolated tornadoes are possible ahead of and during the passing of the storm. Flash flooding is possible and flooding of low-lying areas may occur. If you live in these areas, please make plans now to be prepared for possible evacuation.
Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Watch for south Alabama and the Florida panhandle from Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening. A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions are favorable for flash flooding and residents should pay close attention to signs of flooding conditions and to weather updates.
Some flooding is expected due to Fay’s slow movement across land.
Although, EMA officials did not expect to open any evacuation shelters as a result of Fay’s activities, plans are in place for whatever weather hazards may be presented by any storm in the area, Adams said.
For updated Tropical Storm Fay information log onto www.atmoreadvance.com
Brewton Standard news editor Lisa Tindell contributed to this article.