Pensacola, Fla. – (June 16, 2023)– The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) and Escambia County are working closely together to assist all Pensacola Beach residents, leaseholders and business owners who suffered damage from the storm event that took place Thursday night, June 15.

Please note that some Pensacola Beach commercial businesses may be closed, or may delay opening, from wind or flood damage along the island.

The Pensacola Beach Island Trolley service, operated by Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT), has been canceled today, June 16. ECAT will continue to monitor weather conditions and provide updates from the Emergency Operations Center.

All Pensacola Beach residents are encouraged to secure their leasehold properties for life-safety issues as soon as possible. Storm damage repairs can begin on essential building components without a building permit as long as application for permitting is submitted by Monday, June 26.However, photo documentation should be taken prior to repairs beginning.

Pensacola Beach leaseholders with power outages in the areas of DeLuna Point and La Bahia are advised of the following:

• Escambia County building services will be assessing exterior electrical services for each individual unit.
• Electrical services without damage will be approved to be re-energized.
• Please be advised that it’s up to individual tenants to disconnect any circuit that has damage by switching the circuit breaker to the off position.
• If any resident needs help with evaluating damage or disconnecting circuits, please call 850-587-5770 to be connected to an Escambia County Electrical Inspector.
• Pensacola Beach residents can self-report storm damages through the Escambia County Citizen Damage Report website

Beginning Tuesday, June 20, at 8 a.m., SRIA and Escambia County will have joint staff on site at the SRIA office to issue permits for all repair work necessary due to storm damage. Building permit fees for SRIA and Escambia County will be waived temporarily as residents continue to recover from this event.

For questions regarding permitting or electrical issues, please contact the SRIA Development Services Department at 850-932-2257 or the Escambia County Building Department at 850-595-3550.

About the Santa Rosa Island Authority

Pensacola Beach is owned by Escambia County, Fla., and is under the direction of the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA). The SRIA was created by the Florida legislature in 1947 under Chapter 24500. The SRIA does not receive tax support from the taxpayers of the county. It is fully funded from lease fees collected from business and residences on the beach. The Island Authority board is made up of six members; five are named by members of the Escambia County Board of Commissioners whose term is the same as the commissioner who appointed them. Registered voters on Pensacola Beach elect the sixth member. The elected member’s term is two years.