You can bank on that. Did you see how high Pensacola Bay got? Usually when you drive over that bridge there's at least 25 feet to the water. I suspect the surge most likely completely submerged much of Okaloosa Island. I don't mean to alarm, but it's bad there. I have heard NOTHING about Gulf Breeze or Pensacola Beach.
It looks like it still pretty much sucks there weather wise present moment. Fox is reporting that Panama City is still under curfew.
Very little is yet to be known about Gulf Shores/Orange Beach/Perdido Key. All I've heard is that traffic is being stopped on one side of the Intercoastal Canal on HWY 59 because the road is under 8 feet of water. I think the surge probably went all the way over the island and into the Intercoastal. Same as Frederick. Eastward down the beach toward Pensacola probably received (receiving) the most damage. Hope the FloriBama is still there.
From the images available, I estimate that there was about 6 to 7 feet (half the truck heigth) of bridge above sea level when they were taken, indicating a surge of 18 to 19 feet at that location. Note that the bay could easily funnel a 15 to 16 foot surge (anecdotal reports so far) to a greater heigth in a localized area, and that other areas further out in the bay may not have seen that high a surge. Conversely, other areas may have received a higher surge.
I suspect the bridge damage was due to individual waves, from the limited extent of the visible effects.
The last report I heard from Pensacola Beach was this morning from NBC's Kerry Sanders who is holed up in a specially designed dome home to withstand a Cat 5. If I remember correctly he said he was surrounded by water. Doesn't sound good. The Gulf Breeze school right after you go over that bridge into Pensacola Beach is probably destroyed.
My mom talked to our relatives in Pensacola. They all are okay but haven't been able to get out and check out the damage on their homes. My aunt doesn't have homeowners insurance. My aunt's son's windows were blown out. They all live on the same street in three different houses but last night, my 80 yr old aunt went to stay with her daughter down the street. The good thing is they all live in brick homes. But they are still getting high winds so they're still riding it out. Will know more later.
Oh, and wondering how the Destin Harbor held up?
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I heard on the news, the FloraBama is gone.
They'd built one huge condo unit to the left of it, were building another on the right. Jammed squarely up against it. Sooo, I'm guessing it acted as a funnel between those 2 big buildings. Anyway, it's gone.
Saw some video from Dauphin Island. It looks real good.
I'm trying to find out when residents will be allowed to return.