2 years after Michael, Florida Panhandle recovery goes on

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Much of the blue tarps that covered the battered homes across Florida's Panhandle are gone, as the scars from Hurricane Michael two years ago begin to fade. Homes and businesses have been repaired or rebuilt.

But the psychological and emotional toll wrought from the Category 5 storm continues to linger as families and communities yearn for a return to normalcy, something made even more difficult to regain because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Two years ago, I didn't think it could get any worse, but it did. This year has been very hard to navigate,” said Ladona Kelley, a student-family liaison with the school district in Calhoun County, one of the areas hit hardest by Michael.

“It's hard to recover when you're already in a bad situation because you don't have the resources or don't have the transportation and because of the isolation from living in a rural area. It is not an overnight fix. It's definitely a long-term recovery," she said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the county seat of Blountstown on Friday — the eve of Michael making landfall two years ago — to announce $10 million in funding to continue repairs on the community hospital, which was badly damaged by the storm.

Earlier in the day in nearby Panama City, first lady Casey DeSantis announced an additional $5.2 million in grants to benefit children, partly to help them recover from the emotional upheaval in the frightening days of the storm as well as the months of disruptions caused by both the pandemic. Recent storms have added to the unease, including last month's Hurricane Sally and, now, Hurricane Delta which is menacing the Louisiana coast.

The money announced Friday was just a fraction of the more than $830 million in state and federal funding that has benefitted the...