Hurricane Michael

Their job is to support firefighters, paramedics and law enforcement officers responding to disasters

"They can count on us being good neighbors”

15 roads will be fully repaired and resurfaced.

Tyndall AFB will rebuild its marina six years after a massive storm destroyed it.

Holiday trees made from driftwood and ornaments from oyster shells form the focus of their decorative output.

Five years ago Hurricane Michael crashed into Florida’s Panhandle. The storm devastated the communities in its path. Homes, jobs and lives were lost. Today, many of the residents who lived through the disaster say they’re still struggling to recover.

Bay County officials are commemorating the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Michael

Mayor Greg Brudnicki and other leaders from a rebuilt Panama City recently went to the southwestern coast to help officials plan a way forward. Brudnicki says they have to concentrate on removing debris because nothing else can happen until that's done.

A legislative budget panel this week gave Gov. Ron DeSantis millions more dollars to pump into storm recovery projects, two weeks after category 4 Hurricane Ian landed in Southwest Florida and crossed the state. Ian landed nearly 4 years after category 5 Michael hit the Panhandle, where recovery continues.

Today marks the four-year anniversary of Hurricane Michael crashing into the Florida Panhandle as a Category 5 storm. While progress has been made toward putting the ravaged communities back together, there’s still a long way to go. Blountstown Elementary students and staff took another step toward recovery last week as they helped break ground on their new school.