ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — Something almost unheard of is happening in our coverage area: snow heading to the Gulf Coast.

Gulf Coast Freeze: School closings, schedule changes

As people prepare for winter weather, so are our first responders.

“EMS is upstaffing because we anticipate that we’re going to have a hard time doing a shift change Wednesday morning and same with our 9-11 dispatch,” Eric Gilmore, Public Safety Director for Escambia County, said.

Gilmore says people should expect longer EMS response times during inclement weather.

“We’ll be responding, but we will be slow to respond. So I want everyone to understand that. Road conditions are going to dictate how quick we can get there,” Gilmore said.

Officials are encouraging people to stay off the roads.

“We’re going to have what they’re saying is potentially a historical event with the amount of snow we’re receiving. Stay home and play in it. Have fun in it. Don’t be out creating problems for us to try to get to you,” Gilmore said.

Escambia County’s Emergency Operation Center will be on alert.

“We are going to be a level 2 activation, partial activation,” Gilmore said. “So what it means (is), our EM staff will be in the room monitoring throughout tomorrow and tomorrow night.

Gulf Coast Freeze: Office closures, meeting cancellations and service changes

“So if anybody in the field, our emergency services staff, need anything, a resource, or to reach back here, they’ll have our emergency manager, and our Ops Section Chief will be here as well.”

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