More than three years after Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced another wave of recovery dollars for rural communities. DeSantis said over $91 million will be distributed to numerous communities through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program.
“I’ve said from the beginning that recovery from Hurricane Michael would be a long-term process,” said DeSantis in a statement. “Michael has forever left a mark on Panhandle communities, but through the funding provided today, we can ensure these communities are stronger and better equipped for the future.”
DeSantis made the announcement from Marianna, Florida, in Jackson County, a county that, DeSantis said, would be receiving a total of $60 million for infrastructure.
Happy to award over $91 million to communities throughout Northwest Florida for infrastructure projects, including over $60 million in Jackson County. pic.twitter.com/7yNYgbVo7A
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 11, 2022
The largest recipient was Alford, Fla, a town of less than 500 people that will receive nearly $14 million to construct a city-wide septic-to-sewer remodel.
The City of Marianna will receive just over $19 million total to rehab the stormwater drainage system and to replace over 24,000 feet of main water pipes.
The Florida Capital Star spoke with Jim Dean, the City Manager for the City of Marianna, who said the money will go a long way to help their community recover, specifically the underground water system.
“The water system has been in the ground for nearly 80 or 90 years, and some of the pipes are made from asbestos pipe,” Dean said. “They say we lost billions of dollars in tree canopy, and it affected the water lines.”
While this is not just a fix and recovery, Dean said this infrastructure development will help with resiliency when another storm does eventually come through the area again.
“It’s supposed to not only help us recover but help us prepare for events like Hurricane Michael,” Dean said. “You can’t even begin to determine the moving and shifting of sewer lines.”
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, a native of Panama City, joined DeSantis at the press conference.
“More than three years since Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle, Governor Ron DeSantis continues to make good on his promise to support these communities with vital resources to recover from this historic storm,” said Patronis. “This additional $91 million in recovery funding will go a very long way in improving the infrastructure needed to support the families and businesses impacted by Hurricane Michael. Thank you to Governor DeSantis and DEO Secretary Dane Eagle for their continued support of Hurricane Michael recovery.”
Twelve other communities are set to receive money for recovery, including Blountstown, Wewahitchka, Grand Ridge, Bristol, Graceville, Sneads, Malone, Campbellton, Vernon, Gretna, and Wausau.
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at The Florida Capital Star and The Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “hurricane recovery” by Ron DeSantis.
