(Pictured: Typical street in the Cove section of Panama City)
October 10th, 2018 is a date that residents of the Florida Panhandle will never forget. On this date, Hurricane Michael tore through the region causing unimaginable damage to property and taking at least 39 lives. The Category 4 storm had sustained winds of 155 miles per hour, just shy of a Category 5, and was the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle since record keeping began. It was the forth strongest hurricane to hit the US in terms of wind speed, and the third strongest in terms of pressure. The storm was so strong that it was still a Category 3 hurricane when it reached Georgia.
Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe suffered huge losses as the storm surge completely destroyed many beachfront structures, including many homes and businesses blocks from the beaches. Large areas of Panama City, Lynn Haven, and Callaway received heavy damage as well. In contrast, Panama City Beach received far less damage as it was just far enough West of the storm’s center and high winds.
Despite the best efforts of recovery workers, life is still difficult for many residents who are still struggling to get power, water, phone & Internet service, and in many cases a new place to call home. Fallen trees, collapsed houses, crashed utilities poles, and flipped cars and trucks are everywhere.
Pictured: Georgia Power working with Gulf Power to restore service. Photo courtesy of Gulf Power.
The utility companies, particularly Gulf Power, are to be commended for their enormous effort to restore power throughout the region. In the days and weeks after the storm, thousands of utility trucks and personnel were everywhere. Gulf Power helped coordinate a massive response that included power company resources from 15 states including Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, with some as far Kentucky, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Ohio. The rate at which power is being restored is truly remarkable given the extent of the damage. As of October 23rd, Gulf Power estimates that it has restored power to 95% of all customers who were able to safely take power.
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