LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY @ 11:03 AM CST

The Walton County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) reports the following:

–The Walton County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) continues to remind the public Walton County beaches (water, sand and accesses) remain closed for today, Wednesday, August 29, 2012. Debris, along with the rough surf conditions, has made the beach areas unsafe. The integrity of beach access structures will remain in question until they have been inspected. Yellow tape has been placed at certain points on accesses for the safety of the public. Please do not cross these areas and put your safety, as well as those of public safety officers, in danger. Damage assessment teams will continue to monitor the beaches throughout the day and upon a reassessment of conditions, a decision will be made tomorrow morning whether to re-open beach areas.

–Beach flag conditions can be monitored at www.swfd.org and on South Walton Fire Department’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/southwaltonfire.

–Here are some photos of today’s beach impact.

–The Citizen Information Hotline was deactivated as of 5 p.m. Any residents who have further questions can contact the Walton County Sheriff’s Office at 850-892-8186.

–Any wildlife or marine life that may be encountered should not be approached, and the appropriate authorities should be contacted. These include but are not limited to:

• Walton County Animal Control: (850) 892-8682
• Turtle Watch: (850) 897-5228 or (850) 685-6281
• Walton County Sheriff’s Office: (850) 892-8111
• Wildlife Alert Hotline: (888) 404-3922

–You can also keep up with the latest info using these links:

— Walton County Sheriff’s Office
— Walton ALERT on Facebook
— LIVE BEACH CAM
— BE PREPARED! Ready.gov (FEMA)
— National Hurricane Center
— Free Hurricane Preparedness Apps (American Red Cross): iPhone or Android

Video by Walton Outdoors: