Walton Commission to Consider Emergency Declaration as Isaias Approaches
The Walton County Board of County Commissioners will convene a special meeting Thursday morning in DeFuniak Springs to consider declaring a local state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Isaias, with evacuations and county office closures also on the agenda.
The meeting is set for 10 a.m. Thursday, October 8, at the DeFuniak Springs BCC Boardroom, 571 US Highway 90 East. County Administrator Brian Kellenberger will lead the board through three agenda items: an update on Tropical Storm/Hurricane Isaias, a discussion regarding evacuations, and a discussion regarding Walton County office closures.
The centerpiece is Resolution 2026-69, attached to the storm update item, which would declare a state of local emergency in Walton County from noon Wednesday, October 7, until noon Tuesday, October 13. The resolution cites the anticipated approach and pass of Tropical Storm Isaias, warning that severe weather could cause substantial damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure, leave citizens unable to access their homes, and require specialized equipment and personnel to respond.
The declaration would give the county access to state assistance for emergency response and recovery, and the resolution formally enlists the aid of the governor, the state cabinet and Florida’s federal representatives. Under Chapter 252 of the Florida Statutes, a local state of emergency unlocks the powers available to a county during an emergency, including procurement and curfew authorities that normally require a lengthier process.
Thursday’s agenda also includes an evacuation zone attachment, indicating commissioners could discuss — or order — evacuation measures for surge-prone coastal zones ahead of the storm’s expected arrival Friday. The National Weather Service has warned that storm surge of 4 to 7 feet above ground is possible somewhere in surge-prone areas, with the window of concern running from Friday morning until Saturday morning. Inland, Freeport and the rest of Walton County face a forecast of 40-50 mph winds with gusts to 65 mph and an additional 4 to 8 inches of rain on ground still saturated from this week’s flash flooding.
The meeting comes as preparations accelerate across the county. Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Walton and 24 other counties Tuesday night, and Walton County schools are closed Thursday and Friday so families can prepare for the storm.
The full agenda packet, including Resolution 2026-69, is available through the Walton County CivicWeb portal, and residents can follow Walton County Emergency Management for updates as the storm approaches.
Originally reported by the Walton County Board of County Commissioners Agenda. Image: Generated meeting alert graphic based on Walton County CivicWeb agenda data.
