We were just finishing up with major repairs and it appears we'll have to start all over again...
Published - July, 10, 2005
Dennis spares Pensacola Bay Area from Ivan-scale damage
From staff reports
Argenis Castillo, 60, of Pensacola, is wrapped in a blanket as he stands outside the shelter set up at the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola Sunday morning as Hurricane Dennis bears
While formidable, Hurricane Dennis did not pack the punch that was expected, and certainly did not deliver the damage dealt by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.
Reports from the field:
Downtown roads are passable for the most part, with scattered debris mostly from trees.
Aragon Court is flooded up to the curb but has not reached the houses.
Bayfront Parkway is clear of debris and water has not breeched the road.
Pensacola Bay Bridge is passable and has no damage; residents are crossing the bridge.
The fishing pier appears not to have sustained any additional damage. Water levels do not appear to be that high.
There is minimal damage entering Gulf Breeze from Pensacola. Some signs are down; trees are relatively intact. There is minor flooding near the McDonald's. Gulf Breeze residents already are out and driving around.
Perdido Key is open. The sun is shining and the bridge is open.
On Pensacola Beach, however, it is a different story.
The roof to Crabs restaurant is gone, as is the roof of the Holiday Inn.
There is a lot of new damage. Several condos at Emerald Isle are torn open. The Dunes hotel has a new gash in it on the east side. It appears that most of the damage came from wind and water blowing from the north to south.
Power lines are down all over Pensacola Beach. There is a tangled mass of power lines on Via de Luna. Scaffolding, which was erected in front of South Harbour, was blown over and speared the roof of the Visitors Information Center.
A lot of debris became missiles. There are two jet skis in the road just off of the Bob Sikes Bridge. The Pensacola Pier looks to be in fairly good shape, although it is not apparent if the breakaway panels actually had to break away.
Jubilees Restaurant is torn open. Fred Simmon's Paradise Bar and Grill has a large hole in the wall and a flooded parking lot. Access was extremely limited from the commercial core because of downed power lines and other debris.
Hurricane Dennis made landfall just before 3:30 p.m. on Santa Rosa Island and the Gulf Breeze peninsula near Oriole Beach, the National Weather Service reported.
Peak winds were measured at 120 mph at Navarre. The storm center passed over Santa Rosa Island near the Portofino condos.
While initial reports of damage are relatively favorable, forecasters said that extreme wind damage, flooding and potential tornadoes are likely. The storm center continued on into Escambia Bay, with the eyewall pushing over the Escambia Bay Bridge on Interstate 10.
Damage and injury reports have not been finalized, but Gulf Power Co. reports at least 40,000 were without power by 2 p.m.
John Hutchinson, company spokesman, said he expected that number to have doubled by 3 p.m., which is when Dennis was going across the Pensacola Bay Area with winds over 100 mph.
Dennis followed the forecasts and arrived with a punch.
Radar observations indicate Hurricane Dennis made landfall at 2:25 p.m. on Santa Rosa Island between Navarre and Pensacola Beach.
Data from the Air Force Reserves' Hurricane Hunters indicate that the landfall intensity was 115 to 120 mph: Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
A tornado warning has been issued for the area.
Already, Hurricane Dennis has claimed two lives in the Florida Panhandle.
An elderly man seeking shelter from Hurricane Dennis was found dead at the Pensacola Civic Center about 1:45 a.m. today, Escambia County Sheriff Ron McNesby said.
The 77-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was found in a restroom, according to sheriff's reports.
Initial indications are that he died of a heart attack. Family members were at the shelter with him.
Also, Florida officials reported the first fatality tied to Hurricane Dennis was a 3-year-old boy who died Friday in Walton County.
The child fell out of a van during evacuation preparations. Florida Highway Patrol Col. Chris Knight said he had no further details.
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