Updates from WEAR-TV

Pensacola Beach Update

Pensacola Beach is now open... but for residents and emergency personel only.

Initially it was thought that the damage was relatively light but crews have found a number of homes destroyed off Via De Luna on the Avenidas.

We're told that some homes were actually washed into the street.

Many power lines are snapped and strewn across Via De Luna drive and fort pickens road...and it is not safe to drive on.

Water didn't cross the road, but the picnic area at Quietwater Beach was flooded.
The hurricane took the scaffolding from the South Harbor Condominium and blanketed the beach with it.

But, damage to most businesses appears minimal.

Right now, officials are waiting on Gulf Power crews to come and clean-up the downed lines.

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Santa Rosa County Update

Along Highway 98 in Navarre several buildings suffered severe damage...the concord church lost a part of it's roof...and at Emerald Coast RV, six rv's flipped over.

Milton also took a strong hit from the storm...the city's downtown historic district suffered major roof damage.

The Santa Rosa County Courthouse lost a large portion of it's roof...as did the historic Imogene Theatre across the street.

Several commercial businesses also suffered heavy damage.