RECORD RAINFALL
Despite deluge, rainfall numbers still below normal for the year
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News Standing water obstructs U.S. 98 during rush hour on Oct. 18.Weather instruments recorded over two feet of rainfall during a two day period last week.

Although Gulf Breeze was spared by the tornado that ripped through Pensacola last Thursday, the peninsula did receive its share of rain and lightning. Despite record rainfall for the month of October, weather experts say the area is still behind by approximately 9 inches of rain for the year as of press time.

According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, Ala., the City of Gulf Breeze was swamped by more than two feet of water within a day and a half last week. Roadways within the city limits and unincorporated neighborhoods such as Tiger Point and La Leyenda became choked with storm water and lighting stuck the Lowe's Home Improvement store in Gulf Breeze.

Around 8 a.m. on Oct. 18 traffic was clogged through the city limits as a result of more than a foot of rain that morning. Standing water collected on Highway 98 and the corridor looked more like a river than a road during rush hour that morning. Maintenance crews worked quickly and much of the overflow receded by 10:30 a.m.

Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News The playground next to Gulf Breeze Elementary School was flooded Oct. 18.

"That's a lot of rain," said the city's Fire Chief and Director of Public Safety, Shane Carmichael. "It just overcomes the drainage system. It's just not designed to deal with that much rain."

City public works crews were dispatched to unclog storm water drains, install sandbags and pump water away from affected areas. Thomas Lambert with South Santa Rosa Utilities System said his department set up trailer-mounted water pumps at Plantation Hill Road, Bay Cliffs Road, Dracena Way and other locations, pumping more than 1,200 gallons per minute to clear the roadways.

"We did receive grant money for storm water upgrades," Lambert said. "Areas that had problems in the April 2005 rains have been greatly improved."

Lambert added that those areas improved by mitigation funding included San Carlos Avenue, York Street, Gilmore Drive and Bay Cliffs Road.

"At Bay Cliffs, the situation is better than the last time but it still needs some work," Lambert said.

Administrators at GBHS estimated that between 125 and 150 had to be moved from classrooms and portables last Thursday. GBHS Assistant Principal Victor Lowrimore said classes in three rooms within the building were moved because of water encroachment and four portables were evacuated because of tornado warnings. Lowrimore said all classes would meet in their normal locations this week.

"We just had to wait. We didn't really have any damage," Lowrimore said. "Custodial crews did an excellent job getting everything cleaned up."

Rain gauges at Gulf Breeze High School (GBHS) reported 15.33 inches of rain Oct. 18 and 10.23 inches the morning of Oct. 19 for a total of 25.56 inches. Oct. 18 was a record breaking day of rain reported at the Pensacola Regional Airport with 8.95 inches. The last record was 1.08 inches set in 1950, said meteorologist John Werner at the National Weather Service office in Mobile. Werner said the average amount of rainfall seen in October is 2.46 inches. As of Monday, Oct. 22, the airport recorded 15.73 inches since Oct. 1. However, despite the abnormal numbers for the month the area's yearly numbers are still down because of dry weather this summer. As of Monday, the airport recorded 45.2 inches for the year. The normal amount of rain for this time of year is 54.18 inches, making the area's recorded rainfall 9.34 inches below normal.

Rain was not the only problem last week. The Lowe's near Tiger Point was struck by lightning around 11:30 a.m. last Thursday and the store closed for several hours before reopening around 1 p.m., Store Manager Greg Gilmore said.

Midway firefighters arrived on scene to inspect the store with assistance from Gulf Breeze Fire and Rescue. Midway Fire Chief Stephen Demeter, who said his department responded to more than 20 calls last Thursday, said lightning struck the store's generator and traveled up electrical wires before dispersing. Demeter added that the strike did not cause any structure damage. No injuries were reported. The chief also said his department assisted the Holley Navarre Fire Department with a house that was struck by lightning in Navarre.