UPDATED WEDNESDAY | 10.28.26 | 10:35 AM
Walton County Emergency Management Announces Update on FEMA Disaster
Declaration for Hurricane Isaias
WALTON COUNTY, FL. — Walton County Emergency Management announces that the FEMA disaster
declaration for Hurricane Isaias Public Assistance is now complete. Individual Assistance remains under
review.
The completion of the Public Assistance portion of the disaster declaration marks an important update in the
ongoing recovery process following Hurricane Isaias, which impacted communities across the Florida
Panhandle from October 6–12, 2026.
Walton County extends its appreciation to President Donald J. Trump, Governor Ron DeSantis, Congressman
Byron Donalds, Senator Rick Scott, Congressman Jimmy Patronis, and Senator Ashley Moody for their
advocacy and support for the region as affected communities continue recovery efforts.
A decision regarding Individual Assistance has not yet been announced. Walton County Emergency
Management will share additional information with residents as soon as a determination is made.
Walton County recognizes that disaster recovery takes time and remains committed to keeping residents
informed as recovery efforts progress. Residents are encouraged to continue following Walton County
Emergency Management’s official communication channels for updates regarding federal assistance and
recovery resources.
For the latest updates, residents should follow Walton County Emergency Management’s official
communication channels.
Walton County Announces Multi-Agency Resource Center to Assist Residents with Storm Recovery
Walton County is coordinating with state and local agencies and community partners to establish a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) to assist residents and business owners as recovery efforts continue following recent storm impacts.
The resource center will provide residents with opportunities to connect directly with representatives from agencies and organizations offering recovery assistance, guidance, and information about available services.
Participating organizations will address a variety of needs, including insurance and financial recovery, small business assistance, rebuilding resources, consumer protection, legal services, veterans’ services, elder affairs, agricultural support, and other community resources.
Expected participating partners include the Florida Department of Commerce, American Red Cross, U.S. Small Business Administration, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Hope Florida, veterans’ services representatives, legal aid providers, elder affairs representatives, agricultural agencies, county departments, municipalities, and other organizations serving Walton County residents.
Further scheduling of the Multi-Agency Resource Center will be disseminated once scheduling and locations have been confirmed.
361 N 10th St, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433
Resource Center Schedule
October 19–24, 2026
Monday, October 19th, 2026, from 1:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Tuesday, October 20th – October 24th, 2026, from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.
The State of Florida will assist with the resource center setup, including tables, chairs, designated spaces, and internet access to help participating agencies provide services efficiently.
Residents are encouraged to monitor official Walton County and Walton County Emergency Management communication channels for updates regarding locations, operating hours, participating agencies, and available services.
DRONE PROPERTY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS
As personnel conduct field damage assessments related to Hurricane Isaias, please be aware that
emergency management teams and other authorized personnel may be operating drones in affected
areas to assess damage and document conditions.
PLEASE USE CAUTION AND GIVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ROOM TO WORK.
Be alert for drones operating overhead and personnel working in the field.
Do not interfere with damage assessment operations or emergency response activities.
Keep a safe distance from assessment teams and any restricted or hazardous areas.
These efforts are important to documenting storm impacts, identifying hazards, and supporting recovery
operations.
Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and support as our emergency management partners work to
assess damage and help keep our communities safe
WALTON COUNTY DEBRIS REMOVAL
alton County is pleased to announce the availability of a new Debris Removal Dashboard, provided by Tetra
Tech, to help residents stay informed about ongoing storm debris collection efforts throughout the county.
Residents can access the Walton County Debris Removal Dashboard through the following link:
https://bit.ly/IsaiasDebrisUpdate
Agencies continue working to pick up storm-caused debris along the public right-of-way. Please be
patient as the debris haulers begin their work. The debris trucks will be working in both
incorporated and unincorporated and private and gated community areas of Walton County. This
will include public and private roadways.
This occurs SIMULTANEOUSLY through ALL areas of the county.
DRC Emergency Services, LLC trucks will be working along all zones within the county
Please be patient as the clean-up crews are starting a very long process, and remember to sort your
debris accordingly to help facilitate this effort.
The debris trucks will begin passes in all 8 zones (refer to picture) in both incorporated and unincorporated areas of Walton County. This will include public and private roadways.
DRC Emergency Services, LLC trucks will be working along all zones within the county.
Please be patient as the clean-up crews are starting a very long process, and remember to sort your
debris accordingly to help facilitate this effort
What does that mean for Walton County residents?
Under the direction of Walton County Emergency Management Director Jeff Goldberg, Walton County
will begin to coordinate efforts with current contractors to start the removal of storm-related
debris.
What you need to know about debris pickup:
Debris collection is a calculated and systematic process based on several key factors:
o Type of debris
o Amount of debris in an area
o Availability of trucks and equipment to safely remove it
o Access to impacted areas and public safety concerns
o Emergency repairs and life-safety priorities are addressed first
Crews may not pick up debris in a straight line by neighborhood. Routes are often based on
logistics, safety access, and hauling efficiency—not on geographic order. If debris is improperly
sorted or placed, it will not be collected.
While the County oversees removal, residents are responsible for:
o Moving debris to the public right-of-way (within 10 feet of the curb)
o Separating debris into the correct categories: vegetative, construction/demolition,
appliances, electronics, hazardous waste, and regular household trash
o Avoiding blocked areas like roads, driveways, mailboxes, fire hydrants, and utility meters
Debris that is not properly sorted or not placed in the right location will not be picked up.
Different categories of debris:
o Vegetative Debris
Includes: Tree branches, logs, leaves, shrubs, yard waste
Must be free of plastic bags, construction materials, or household garbage and
placed in a separate pile.
o Construction & Demolition Debris
Includes: Drywall, lumber, roofing, insulation, flooring, cabinets, fencing
Remove any nails or sharp protrusions, when possible, for safety
o Appliances (White Goods):
Includes: Refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves, water heaters, air conditioners
Remove food from refrigerators and freezers before placing at the curb
Do not place inside bags or containers
Place doors shut and securely taped or removed for safety
o Electronics (E-Waste)
Includes: Televisions, computers, monitors, printers, microwaves, DVD players
Keep electronics separate from other waste to prevent contamination and
environmental harm
o Household Hazardous Waste
Includes: Paint, cleaning supplies, oils, fuel, batteries, pesticides, propane tanks
Do not mix with regular trash or other debris
Handle and place carefully to avoid spills or leaks
May require special disposal procedures—check with Walton County for drop-off
events or locations
o Normal Household Garbage
Includes: Bagged kitchen and bathroom trash, food waste, diapers, pet waste
This is not storm debris and should be disposed of through regular curbside
collection services.
Visit Walton County Waste Management’s website for more
information.
Why is it important to separate my storm debris?
o Ensures compliance and opportunity for reimbursement to the County
o Speeds up cleanup and recovery efforts
o Reduces health and safety risks to residents and cleanup crews
o Protects the environment from improper disposal of hazardous material
To ensure all debris is collected:
o Place all sorted debris at the edge of the right-of-way (within 10 feet of the road)
o Do not place debris in the road, near mailboxes, utility poles or downed power lines, fire
hydrants, water meters, utility boxes or drainage ditches.
o Do not block driveways or sidewalks
o Avoid stacking debris near fences, structures, or vehicles
o Do not bag debris unless it is regular household garbage. Regular household garbage
should be placed in Walton County’s standard bins.
o Although we do not recommend bagging storm debris, any bagged debris (other than
household garbage) will need to be stored in CLEAR bags, or it will not be collected.
Debris collection will start soon; please be patient during this time. If you have any questions or
concerns, please contact the Walton County Community Information Center at 850-892-8394.
WALTON COUNTY POINTS OF DISTRIBUTION
All Points of Distribution have been discontinued.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES
In coordination with Walton County Emergency Management, the following food distribution sites are scheduled for today.
Operation BBQ Relief will be providing free meals tomorrow, Monday, October 12, at the following locations:
Walmart #1134 (Lunch at Noon until food runs out)
1226 Hwy 331 South, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
NEED HELP OR WANT TO HELP?
As our community recovers from Hurricane Isaias, please use the links below to volunteer, request essential assistance, or report property damage.
VOLUNTEER TO HELP
Sign up as an individual or organization to help meet needs in our community. Let us know your availability and how you can assist.
https://icanhelp.matrixcoc.org
REQUEST ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE
Need food, water, meals, or other essential support? Submit your needs here so the Human Services Branch can help coordinate assistance.
https://assistance.matrixcoc.org
REPORT RESIDENTIAL DAMAGE
Use Walton County’s residential damage assessment form to report storm damage to your home.
REPORT COMMERCIAL DAMAGE
Use Walton County’s commercial damage assessment form to report storm damage to a business or commercial property.
The assistance request form is for essential needs, not property damage reports or requests for damage repairs. Please report property damage through the appropriate county assessment form above.
Submitting a request does not guarantee assistance. Resources are limited, but we will do our best to assist as many individuals and families as possible.
WALTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
From Walton County School District:
For all Walton County Schools, classes and activities will resume on Wednesday, October 14th.
Teachers and Staff will report on Wednesday unless otherwise contacted by their school administrator.
We understand there are still many without power. Questions regarding absences should be directed to your specific school staff and administration.
LIST OF ROAD CLOSURES
Looking for the most up-to-date road closure info in Walton County? Click the link below.
PERIMETER MAP
FOR THOSE WITH INCARCERATED LOVED ONES
For those incarcerated at the Walton County Jail, power has been restored, and inmates should now have access to communications. Our inmate communications vendor provided access to inmates for one free five-minute call to connect with loved ones post-storm.
The jail was not damaged by the storm.
Our facility is able to process bonds at this time.
WELFARE CHECKS
Communications across Walton County are intermittent.
Our dispatch center is currently receiving a lot of calls from out of state requesting welfare checks for loved ones they cannot get a hold of.
Please keep in mind cell signal and internet are limited at best across the county.
Our deputies are working very hard to prioritize calls with special circumstances. But please be patient as comms come back online.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT FORMS
From our partners at Walton County Emergency Management: If your property sustained damage, please continue to self-report using the link below so all impacts can be documented and the necessary resources can be identified:
Residential Damage Assessment Form
https://arcg.is/1yrPn44
Business Damage Assessment Form
https://arcg.is/1jCuGP3
We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. Thank you for your cooperation, and stay safe.
HURRICANE ISAIAS FAQ
Emergency management FAQ for Hurricane Isaias, updated Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, covering warnings, evacuations, shelters, bridge status, road closures, damage reporting, sandbag stations, supply kits, and special needs shelter information in Walton County.
https://www.mywaltonfl.gov/1544/Hurricane-Isaias-FAQ#docaccess-132fb4db300592906a1f9881873dcca9
POWER OUTAGES
Chelco: https://www.chelco.com/
FPL: https://www.fpl.com/fpl-app/my-account/outage/region-selector