More schools likely to close as population declines
A hurricane-damaged building remains unrepaired on N. Cove Boulevard near US 98 in Panama City, June 28, 2019
I was in Panama City and other parts of Bay County this past week as part of my regular post Hurricane Michael listening tour. My visit, as usual, included meetings with local government officials and to volunteer where I could. Hard hit Bay County has lost 25,000 residents of its 185,000 population since Hurricane Michael struck last October 10. With federal disaster money approved but likely many months away from actually arriving, city fathers and residents alike are trying to navigate an often murky recovery process.
The Bay County school system saw enrollment decline by 3,700 students right after Michael as families left the area. Three schools were closed as a result. Now I am told six more schools will likely close before the start of the fall school year next month, due to ongoing declines. Now that the tourism season has arrived, rental rates near the beach have climbed to $2,500 a week, out of reach of year-round residents still displaced by Michael and looking for their next temporary residence, while awaiting repair or rebuilding. There is little housing available inland. FEMA’s transitional assistance program has ended, part of the $1.3 billion FEMA has provided over the eight months post-Michael. Piles of debris remain a common sight throughout Bay County. Officials say the hundreds of canals still filled with debris pose a drainage and flood threat in heavy rains.
While it was in late May that the President signed a $19.1 billion federal disaster bill (with about $4 billion for Florida), we as a government body have not figured out how to get the money on the street. And I’m no expert at it either. There are so many federal funding sources and despite an interagency coordination group, there is no clear process to get the money initiated by the President’s signature to the local communities that need it. A case in point: Hurricane Irma, which struck Florida in September 2017. Almost two years later, checks are finally arriving in South Florida. This past week saw announcements of a $21 million reimbursement award to the Florida Keys for debris removal and $140 million for new affordable housing to address housing shortages. How can we get the money from Washington to Main Street faster? We’re open to our readers’ ideas on this topic – write us!
A large pile of hurricane debris on US 98 near Massalina Drive in Panama City, June 28, 2019
During my Panhandle visits, I invariably try to help with claims hiccups, calling a carrier’s help desk to help straighten out a delay or miscommunication between a policyholder and their carrier. A Tampa Bay Times article noted the difficulties some homeowners are facing getting their claims paid or paid to their satisfaction. Some have resorted to lawyers advertising on billboards. My quote in the article: “I’m puzzled why lawyers who say they have their consumers’ best interest at heart encourage people to file a claim that 33 cents of every dollar goes in that lawyer’s pocket.”
What is glossed over in these articles that we seem to see after every major disaster is the bigger picture: 84% of Michael claims have been closed (with 5 of 6 claims paid). It’s the 16% that remain open that are getting the attention – about 23,000 open claims compared to the 124,000 closed claims. For those with open claims, the frustration is certainly understandable. It’s a process. We thank the Times for including information from Lisa’s Lucky 7 Hurricane Prep tips in their coverage. We have a lot of hurricane season left to live!
LMA Newsletter of 7-1-19
