Okaloosa Mandatory Evacuation Covers Zones A and B as Hurricane Isaias Threatens 5- to 7-Foot Storm Surge

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Isaias became a hurricane overnight. As of the National Hurricane Center’s 4 a.m. CDT public advisory, it had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and was about 420 miles south-southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River. A Hurricane Warning stretches from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida, and forecasters expect 5 to 7 feet of storm surge from Ocean Springs to Indian Pass, a stretch that includes the Okaloosa coast.

For families caring for older relatives, people on oxygen, or anyone who relies on powered medical equipment, Thursday is the window to move. The county’s two shelters, including one that accepts special needs residents, open at 6 p.m.

The county’s local state of emergency took effect at 5 p.m. Wednesday, and visitors were asked to leave beginning at 8 p.m. that night, according to the county and WEAR-TV reporting. Residents can look up their evacuation zone on the county’s map at myokaloosa.com.

Davidson Middle School, 6261 Old Bethel Road in Crestview, will serve the general public and special needs residents and is pet-friendly. Pets stay on site, but owners cannot visit them. Raider Arena at Northwest Florida State College, 100 E. College Blvd. in Niceville, will also open. The county urges people who can stay with friends or family in a sturdy home outside the evacuation area to do so.

Special needs residents must register in advance through the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County, which provides transportation and shelter for people with physical or mental limitations who have no other way to leave. Evacuees should bring ID, prescriptions, insurance cards, special dietary items, bedding, and phone chargers. Shelters do not allow weapons, alcohol or illegal drugs.

Okaloosa’s regional airports close at 9 p.m. Thursday, and county offices are closed Friday. “Do not wait until the last moment to enter the roadways,” the county said.

Wind damage gets the attention, but water is more dangerous. Storm surge is “currently the leading cause of fatalities from hurricanes,” according to the National Hurricane Center’s storm surge overview, which notes that water weighs about 1,700 pounds per cubic yard. A few feet of moving water can float cars and knock homes off their foundations.

“A life-threatening storm surge is expected along a portion of the northern Gulf Coast,” the hurricane center said in its 4 a.m. discussion. Its forecast calls for Isaias to peak near 110 mph early Friday, just short of major hurricane strength, before moving Friday night or early Saturday ashore. Tropical storm conditions are expected Friday, with 3 to 7 inches of rain and isolated totals near 10 inches.

The track and strength can still shift, so residents should check the latest advisory before making final decisions.

Oct. 6, 2026: Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 25 counties, including Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa, and Escambia, in Executive Order 26-202.

Oct. 7, 2026: Okaloosa declared a local emergency, and the hurricane center issued Hurricane and Storm Surge Warnings for the region.

Oct. 8, 2026: Isaias reached hurricane strength, and Okaloosa’s Zones A and B evacuation took effect at noon.

MedicalDaily previously reported on how Gulf Coast families can plan dialysis and oxygen backup before the storm. The mandatory order means those plans now need to travel with evacuees. Forecasters warned that residents “should prepare for the possibility of long-duration power outages,” which matters for oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines and refrigerated medicines such as insulin.

After landfall, portable generators become a leading hazard. The CDC’s carbon monoxide guidance warns, “Never use a generator inside your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open,” and says to keep generators more than 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents. Headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain or confusion can signal carbon monoxide poisoning and need emergency care.

Floodwater can hide downed power lines, sharp debris and sewage. Residents should not drive through flooded roads and should return only after officials declare areas safe, since evacuated neighborhoods may lack power and water for days.

Neighboring Walton County opened a voluntary evacuation Wednesday night, and commissioners planned to meet Thursday morning to decide whether to make it mandatory. Santa Rosa County officials said they would likely recommend evacuations for low-lying areas south of Interstate 10 if forecasts held. Okaloosa’s emergency operations center moves to full activation at 7 a.m. Friday. Residents can sign up for alerts at AlertOkaloosa.com or text OKALOOSAFL to 888777. MedicalDaily will update this story with new advisories and shelter openings.

Who must evacuate in Okaloosa County? Residents of Zones A and B, including Okaloosa Island and coastal parts of Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Mary Esther, and Niceville, starting at noon Oct. 8.

Where are the shelters? Davidson Middle School in Crestview, which accepts special needs residents and pets, and Raider Arena in Niceville. Both open at 6 p.m. Thursday.

How do special needs residents get help? They must register in advance with the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County, which can arrange transportation.

How much storm surge is expected? The hurricane center forecasts 5 to 7 feet from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to Indian Pass, Florida.

When will Isaias make landfall? Hurricane conditions are expected Friday night into early Saturday, though timing may change with new advisories.