Isaias has now intensified into a hurricane, and Franklin County is currently under a Tropical Storm warning, storm surge warning, and flood watch. We anticipate an additional 5-10 inches of rain from this storm, along with 4-6 feet of storm surge, the possibility of tornadoes, and a chance of sustained tropical storm-force winds.
Mandatory Evacuation Notice
In response, Franklin County will be implementing a mandatory evacuation starting at noon today, 10/8/26, for all Barrier Islands, Alligator Point, Bald Point, low-lying areas, mobile homes, and RV parks. Further evacuations may be announced if there are changes in the storm’s track or intensity. If you plan to evacuate, please do so by Friday morning, 10/9/26.
For those needing evacuation transportation, call our office at 850-653-8977 by 5:00 PM today, and we will arrange transportation to a shelter outside the county. If you feel unsafe leave until the storm has passed.
Important Considerations
• Bridges will close at sustained winds of 45 mph.
• EMS services will cease at sustained winds of 45 mph as well.
• To monitor wind speeds, use Franklin County Weatherstems at the following link: https://franklin.weatherstem.com/.
Franklin County schools and government offices will be closed on 10/9/26.
Given the heavy rainfall earlier this week, the ground is highly saturated, increasing the likelihood of trees falling. If power outages occur and power lines are down, please report this to Duke Energy by calling 1-800-228-8485 or visiting https://www.duke-energy.com/outages.
Sandbag Distribution Information
To assist residents in preparing for potential flooding from the storm, sandbag distribution locations will be open today only from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Please note that we will no longer provide filled sandbags; instead, we will supply empty bags and sand at each location. Remember to bring your own shovel.
Sandbag Locations:
• The Old State Yard – 1090 Bluff Rd, Apalachicola, FL
• Vrooman Park – 30 6th St, Eastpoint, FL
• Old Courthouse Annex – 1647 HWY 98, Carrabelle, FL
• SGI Firehouse – 324 E Pine Ave, St. George Island, FL
• Lot across the street from Alligator Point Firehouse – 101 Tom Roberts Rd, Alligator Point, FL