Escambia Responds To Nearly 1,000 Emergency Calls Throughout Winter Storm
January 24, 2025
During this week’s icy roadways and dangerous conditions due to record setting snowfall, Escambia County first responders never stopped responding to emergency calls, runner nearly 1,000 calls since Tuesday morning.
From 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 to 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 Escambia County Emergency Communications dispatched 960 calls for service throughout the county, including 568 Emergency Medical Services calls and 392 Fire Rescue calls.
As with any emergency or natural disaster, Escambia County Public Safety has plans in place to increase staffing and remain ready to respond quickly to calls for service. Even during the height of the snowstorm when visibility was low and road conditions were dangerous, first responders were out running emergency calls.
“I am incredibly proud of our Public Safety team for always being ready and willing to respond, often putting their own safety and comfort aside to protect and serve our community,” Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore said. “It’s times like this when the public relies on us the most, and I am proud to say that we never stopped responding to emergency calls during this unprecedented and historic snowstorm for Northwest Florida.”
The Escambia County Emergency Operations Center has been staffed 24/7 since Monday, Jan. 20 and remained active throughout the winter storm. Public Safety officials began planning for and meeting about the severe winter weather last week, working closely with community partners to determine a plan for cold weather shelters, first responder staffing, emergency responses, and more. Escambia County EMS and Fire Rescue crews stayed overnight at the EOC ahead of and during the storm to ensure they were ready to respond quickly without having to drive to work in dangerous conditions.
Escambia County also worked closely with local, state, and federal partners including the U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Department of Transportation to ensure there was a plan in place for transporting individuals off Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key in an emergency, even if the roads became impassible for emergency vehicles.
“Had there been a point in time where the bridges had been completely impassible even by EMS, we worked out an arrangement with the Coast Guard to transport patients from the beaches to the mainland if necessary,” Escambia County Emergency Manager Travis Tompkins said. “Fortunately, we did not have to use this plan since there were no major incidents.”
Tompkins emphasized the importance of listening to local officials during situations like this when messaging is shared to help keep the public and first responders safe.
“When we put messaging out during an emergency, it is for everyone’s safety,” Tompkins said. “I am so very thankful that the public took note of our messaging to stay off the roads — that helped tremendously with keeping everyone safe.”
Escambia County Public Works crews also worked with Public Safety to clear roads and bridges after the storm, ensuring they were accessible for emergency vehicles to respond to calls. Additionally, Public Works crews worked diligently ahead of and during the storm to sand all bridges throughout Escambia County, working overnight from Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning to prep roadways.
“This was a historic event for Escambia County, Northwest Florida, and the entire state of Florida,” County Administrator Wes Moreno said. “Even with unprecedented amounts of snowfall, I am very proud of how hard our county staff has worked before, during, and after this storm to serve the public and keep everyone safe. Thank you to our Public Safety and Public Works crews for their continued efforts to clear roadways and respond to calls, and to our residents for their patience as we work together to return to normal. Please continue to stay off the roads unless travel is necessary, for your safety and the safety of our first responders.”
Pictured: Escambia County EMS on scene of a seven vehicle wreck on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill during Tuesday afternoon’s record snowfall. Pictured below: Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore clears ice from his windshield wipers at Highway 99 and Highway 99A near Walnut Hill Tuesday afternoon in an effort to approve visibility. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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9 Responses to “Escambia Responds To Nearly 1,000 Emergency Calls Throughout Winter Storm”
I was born and grew up in Pensacola/Escambia Co. FL. (first 30 yrs of my life) I always prayed for & dreamed of SNOW every year. I remember snow falling with some accumulation (way less than an inch) first time in 3rd grade as I walking home from school (appox 4pm) the second time at 20-21 y/o just enough to make bridges & overpasses fun to cross on a motorcycle as I was motoring home after working night shift at the old long gone University Hosp. My sister & brothers reside in P’cola and sent me plenty of pics. I was there in spirit!
God bless each and every one of you for your service to your fellow man. God has blessed Escambia Country citizens with good caring people. Who come when the calls go out. May he continue to bless all of your for wonderful service. Praying for all of you to get home safely after every shift and give you peace of mind for the horrible things you have to deal with.
Thank you.
A rear wheel drive car like the Challenger in those photos is absolutely the worst choice to put in the snow.
For those calls that were not an emergencies or absolutely necessary should receive a fine for putting those men and women that responded in danger.
Hard to believe those pics are in FLORIDA….
LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT TOO….
No matter the bad, the JOY that will be remembered by most will last a lifetime..
Great work!! Thank you for being literal lifesavers!!
Many many thanks to all who helped during this remarkable event. So glad I live in Florida.
Thank you, thank you to our first responders- current, past, and future! May God bless you and send His angels to protect you always!