September 16, 2021

Florida Panhandle

A tree rests on the roof of a home that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Michael on May 9th, 2019, in Mexico Beach, Florida. Seven months after the Category 5 hurricane made landfall near the small community, the town is still littered with damaged and destroyed homes and businesses. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, $1.1 billion has been spent on Hurricane Michael-related response and recovery efforts in the state.
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Viewfinder: The Florida Panhandle Is Still Recovering From Devastation Caused by Hurricane Michael

A tree rests on the roof of a home that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Michael on May 9th, 2019, in Mexico Beach, Florida.

Toppled trees are seen after Hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 11th, 2018, in Mexico Beach, Florida.
From the Archives

Hurricane Michael Was the Most Devastating Disaster Florida's Farmers Have Seen in Decades

The storm wiped out nearly a million acres of crops and caused $158 million in agricultural losses.

A view of the damaged caused by Hurricane Michael in Mexico Beach, Florida, on October 13th, 2018.
Key Takeaways

What Hurricane Michael Meant for Farms, Oil Production, and Nursing Homes

Preliminary estimates of the damage are just coming in.

Worshipers attend Sunday service in the parking lot of Hiland Park Baptist Church on October 14th, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The church building was damaged by Hurricane Michael.
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Viewfinder: Holding Church Service in the Wake of Hurricane Michael

Worshipers attend Sunday service in the parking lot of Hiland Park Baptist Church on October 14th, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The church building was damaged by Hurricane Michael.

Damaged buildings and a flooded street are seen after Hurricane Michael passed through the downtown area of Panama City, Florida, on October 10th, 2018. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm.
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Viewfinder: Hurricane Michael Hits Land

Damaged buildings and a flooded street are seen after Hurricane Michael passed through the downtown area of Panama City, Florida, on October 10th, 2018.

Hurricane Michael storm surge map from NOAA
Environment

This Map Shows the Areas Most Vulnerable to Storm Surges From Hurricane Michael

A state of emergency has been declared in 35 counties in Florida.

Environment

The Panhandle Paradox

Are The St. Joe Company's development plans for huge swaths of timberland in northwest Florida an environmentally sensitive 'New Ruralism' or a serious threat to irreplaceable ecosystems? Perhaps both.