Hurricane Warning for Walton County: Isaias Storm Update for Owners, Tenants and Applicants

This update is based on the National Hurricane Center's 10:00 PM CDT advisory on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Forecasts change quickly, so please check the sources at the bottom for the latest.

What the National Hurricane Center is saying

Tropical Storm Isaias is in the Gulf of Mexico with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, moving east-northeast. It is expected to become a hurricane soon, keep strengthening through early Friday, and remain a strong hurricane as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast Friday night. Landfall is expected late Friday or early Saturday.

Warnings in effect

  • A Hurricane Warning covers the coast from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County Line in Florida. That stretch includes Walton County and the rest of the Emerald Coast. NHC says preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
  • A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Steinhatchee River, Florida. NHC says this is a life-threatening situation and to promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.
  • Storm surge of 5 to 7 feet above ground is possible from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to Indian Pass, Florida, and 4 to 6 feet from Indian Pass to the Steinhatchee River, if the peak surge arrives at high tide.
  • Tropical-storm conditions begin Friday, and hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area Friday night into early Saturday. Rain of 3 to 7 inches is possible from Friday through the weekend, with isolated amounts up to 10 inches. Isolated tornadoes are possible Friday night.

Don't wait on the landfall forecast

Storms can strengthen faster than forecast, and the forecast can change with each advisory. Please finish your preparations now instead of waiting to see exactly where it lands.

Know your evacuation zone

Walton County uses five evacuation zones, A through E. The zones show your risk from storm surge, not wind or the storm's category, so a home that is far from the Gulf can still be in a zone.

  • Look up your zone at bit.ly/WCKnowYourZone (Walton County Emergency Management's lookup tool).
  • Sign up for AlertWalton, the county's free emergency alerts by text, email, or phone, at alertwalton.org.
  • If officials order an evacuation for your zone, leave.

Maintenance requests

If you see something at a rental that could get worse in the storm, such as loose items, standing water, drainage problems, or a roof or fence concern, tell us now so we can look at it before conditions change. Call us at (850) 685-9898, or use the maintenance process on the Tenant Services page. Once the storm is here, call 911 for any emergency or danger to life.

Reporting damage

  • Report damage at a managed property to us as soon as it is safe to do so. Call (850) 685-9898 or email jennifer@mimsre.com.
  • Take photos or video of the damage, and of your own belongings. Having them helps if you need to file an insurance claim.
  • Stay out of any unit that looks unsafe, and keep away from downed power lines and standing water.
  • As soon as it is safe, we will begin checking on the properties we manage and contact owners about any damage we find.

Rental showings, applications, and move-ins

Showings, inspections, and move-ins scheduled for Thursday through the weekend may be rescheduled for safety. We will contact applicants and tenants directly about any change. You can see current availability on our rental listings, and you can call (850) 685-9898 with questions.

What to do now

  • Follow instructions from Walton County Emergency Management.
  • Bring in or tie down anything outdoors that wind could move.
  • Charge your phones and power banks, fill your gas tank, and gather medications and important documents.
  • Most flood insurance policies have a waiting period before coverage starts, so a policy bought now generally will not cover this storm. Call your insurance agent to confirm what you have.
  • Check on neighbors, especially anyone who may need help.

Where to get the latest

Stay safe, and please check on each other.

Jennifer Anthony-Mims
Managing Owner, Mims Real Estate Advisors LLC
Principled Advice, Always
mimsre.com