Biloxians should use the threat from Tropical Storm Arlene as an opportunity to make sure they’re prepared the next time a storm enters the Gulf of Mexico, Mayor A.J. Holloway said this afternoon.
Arlene made landfall west of Pensacola today around 2 p.m. with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, with some gusts higher. At 3 p.m., the storm was about 20 miles northwest of Pensacola and moving northward at 15 mph. The weather service expected it to weaken over the next 24 hours.
All hurricane watches and warnings have been discontinued, save for a portion of the Gulf Coast from the Mississippi-Alabama border to Panama City, Fla.
“We’ll probably have some rain and some wind guests, which will probably diminish over the next few hours, but I don’t think we have too much to worry about at this time,” Holloway said. “At the same time, people need to remain vigilant any time warnings are issued. We’re only 11 days into the hurricane season, and we’ve already faced a threat. Make sure you have a hurricane kit and you take necessary precautions.”
For information on supplies that you should include in your storm kit, as well as measures you can take to protect your property, click here.