Public paper · Updated October 8, 2026 · NHC Advisory 9, 4:00 p.m. CDT (2:00 p.m. PT) · Northwest Florida evacuations · Hurricane Isaias

Northwest Florida evacuation orders for Hurricane Isaias (Zones A–C, shelters opening)

Evacuation orders are in effect across Northwest Florida ahead of Hurricane Isaias as of Thursday afternoon, Oct. 8, 2026. Okaloosa County (official order): mandatory for coastal Zones A and B since noon CDT. Santa Rosa County (official order): Zones A and B, low-lying areas, and mobile homes since 12:30 p.m. CDT. Reported from county statements: Escambia Zones A and B plus mobile homes and low-lying areas (noon CDT); Walton Zones A, B, and C (noon CDT; reported as mandatory); Franklin barrier islands, Alligator Point, Bald Point, low-lying areas, mobile homes, and RV parks (noon EDT; reported as mandatory; leave by Friday morning); Bay voluntary for Zones A and B and all mobile and manufactured homes. Check your zone and follow your county emergency management.

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Hurricane Isaias is forecast to make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday. At 4:00 p.m. CDT Thursday (2:00 p.m. PT), National Hurricane Center Advisory 9 said Hurricane Hunters found Isaias had strengthened to 100 mph, about 325 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River and moving northeast at 12 mph. The advisory kept a Hurricane Warning from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida and a Storm Surge Warning from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Suwannee River. NHC forecast 5 to 7 feet of surge from Ocean Springs to Indian Pass and 4 to 6 feet from Indian Pass to the Steinhatchee River, and said people should promptly follow evacuation instructions from local officials. Source: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2026/al09/al092026.public.009.shtml

Okaloosa County's own release says a mandatory evacuation became active at 12 p.m. CDT Thursday, Oct. 8, for residents in coastal Zones A and B. That covers Okaloosa Island and portions of coastal Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Mary Esther, and Niceville. The county asked out-of-town visitors to leave starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Its local state of emergency began at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Source: https://myokaloosa.com/sites/default/files/Users/piouser/OkaloosaLocalStateofEmergency.pdf

Santa Rosa County's own update says an evacuation order took effect at 12:30 p.m. CDT Thursday for Zones A and B, low-lying areas, and mobile homes. Zones A and B generally cover areas on or near the water, such as Navarre Beach, the Blackwater River, Escambia Bay, and East Bay. Source: https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2199

Escambia County issued an evacuation order for Zones A and B, effective at noon CDT Thursday, according to the county statement reported by WEAR-TV and the Pensacola News Journal. That includes Perdido Key, Innerarity Point, Pensacola Beach, and other low-lying areas, plus anyone in a mobile home or low-lying area, whatever their zone. Sources: https://weartv.com/news/local/escambia-county-declares-state-of-emergency-will-open-two-shelters and https://www.pnj.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2026/10/08/escambia-issues-evacuation-orders-for-zones-a-and-b-ahead-of-isaias/92154614007/

Walton County has an evacuation order for Zones A, B, and C starting at noon CDT Thursday. The Tallahassee Democrat and WJHG report that the county commission's statement calls it mandatory. A county FAQ last updated Wednesday night still lists only the earlier voluntary Zones A and B order. Sources: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2026/10/08/florida-find-evacuation-zone-map-hurricane-isaias/92153758007/ and https://www.wjhg.com/2026/10/08/walton-county-issues-mandatory-evacuation-parts-county/

Franklin County began an evacuation at noon Thursday, Eastern time, for all barrier islands, Alligator Point, Bald Point, low-lying areas, mobile homes, and RV parks. The Tallahassee Democrat and WCTV report that the county emergency management notice calls it mandatory. People leaving should be out by Friday morning, Oct. 9. Anyone who needs a ride to a shelter outside the county should call Franklin County Emergency Management at 850-653-8977 by 5 p.m. Thursday. Sources: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2026/10/08/florida-find-evacuation-zone-map-hurricane-isaias/92153758007/ and https://www.wctv.tv/2026/10/08/franklin-county-issues-mandatory-evacuation-alligator-point-bald-point/

Bay County issued an immediate voluntary evacuation for Zones A and B and for anyone in a mobile or manufactured home anywhere in the county, according to the county statement reported by WJHG and the Tallahassee Democrat. Sources: https://www.wjhg.com/2026/10/08/bay-county-issues-voluntary-evacuation-order-zones-b-ahead-hurricane-isaias/ and https://www.tallahassee.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2026/10/08/florida-find-evacuation-zone-map-hurricane-isaias/92153758007/

Look up your zone with Florida's Know Your Zone map (https://floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone/) or your county's tool. Escambia: myescambia.com/knowyourzone. Okaloosa: myokaloosa.com/gis_ps. Orders can change quickly. If this page and your county disagree, follow the county.

What to do now

If your county has ordered your zone, your mobile home, or your low-lying area out, leave now. Officials say you only need to go tens of miles, not hundreds. A friend's or relative's well-built home or a hotel outside the zone is better than a shelter.

Emergency crews may stop responding once sustained winds reach tropical-storm force or water covers the roads. Bridges can close with little warning.

Get alerts from your county, the National Weather Service, and the National Hurricane Center. The storm itself is covered in the living Notice Nearby Isaias paper: https://noticenearby.com/papers/tropical-storm-isaias-advisory-3-oct-7-2026

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Escambia · Santa Rosa · Okaloosa · Walton · Franklin · Bay (FL) hubs · Isaias paper · https://noticenearby.com/papers/tropical-storm-isaias-advisory-3-oct-7-2026

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