Santa Rosa County Emergency Management posted an updated recovery briefing on its Facebook page Sunday at 12:30 p.m., outlining food distribution sites, supply pickups and assistance centers for residents still coping with Hurricane Isaias.
Food and supply distribution
Community partners are providing meals and essential items at several locations:
- Operation BBQ Relief will serve meals at three Walmart sites – 9360 Navarre Parkway in Navarre, 6275 Highway 90 in Milton and 4965 Highway 90 in Milton – with service at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Milton’s First Pentecostal Church (4636 Forsyth St.) will also host meals. Groups needing 50 or more meals can call 386‑222‑2756 to place an order for pickup.
- Milton First Assembly of God (6163 Dogwood Dr.) is offering tarps while supplies last; residents should visit the front office to request one.
- St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church (6451 Park Ave.) will provide diapers, wipes and formula for the day of the posting, Sunday, Oct. 18.
- A mobile food pantry will operate Monday, Oct. 19, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at First Apostolic Church (5574 Highway 90, Milton).
Multi‑Agency Resource Center (MARC)
The Florida Division of Emergency Management has established a Multi‑Agency Resource Center in Santa Rosa County to centralize recovery assistance. The MARC is located in the gym of Pensacola State College’s Milton Campus, 5988 U.S. Highway 90, Milton, and will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
While FEMA will not be on‑site, a coalition of state and local agencies will staff the center, offering services from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Elder Affairs, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Supplies on hand include tarps, water, MREs, baby items, hygiene kits and cleaning kits – available while stocks last. Updated MARC information and additional recovery resources can be found at FloridaDisaster.org/Updates.
Citizen Information Line
The Santa Rosa County Citizen Information Line (850‑983‑INFO) is staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, to answer recovery‑related questions. Callers are reminded not to dial 911 for non‑emergency matters such as downed trees or power lines, as those calls tie up emergency lines.
BRACE coordination
Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) is working with national disaster relief groups, local partners and long‑term recovery teams to connect Escambia and Santa Rosa County residents with volunteer assistance. Through the Crisis Cleanup program, volunteers can help with roof tarping, tree removal, debris cleanup, mud removal from flooded homes and other storm‑related tasks. Residents needing help can call 1‑800‑451‑1954.
211 community resources
For non‑emergency assistance, evacuation help, shelter information and post‑storm recovery support, residents may dial 211 or visit 211nwfl.org. United Way of West Florida operates the 211 Northwest Florida service, offering free, confidential, 24/7 help connecting callers to critical services.
Since Hurricane Isaias, 211 Northwest Florida reports a high volume of calls from residents seeking recovery aid. Callers are encouraged to stay on the line; if prompted to leave a message, a team member will return the call as soon as possible.
Original reporting: FOX10 WALA Mobile (news) — read the source article.
