ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
- The Bay County Medical Examiner is reporting 21 casualties in Bay County.
- The 211 Citizen Hotline continues to receive non-emergency calls. For out-of-state callers, please dial (850) 248-6099.
- Please visit recoverbaycounty.com for recovery information.
- No curfew is in place at this time.
- On Saturday, Nov. 10 the National Weather Service calls for partly sunny, gradually becoming sunny with a high near 61. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Saturday evening calls for partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Northeast wind 10 mph.
Recover Bay County – By the Numbers
Feeding Assistance
Salvation Army: 377,636 total meals
Red Cross Meals: 458,698 total meals (11/8)
36 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV’s) doing mobile feeding with the Red Cross.
Total sheltered: 379
Debris Management: An estimated 1.1 million cubic yards of debris have been removed in the unincorporated areas of Bay County.
SBA Disaster Loans approved in Bay County: $104,267,800
Government Center
The Bay County Government Center will be closed Monday, Nov. 12 in observation of Veterans Day; however, several departments will remain open to the public. The Bay County Landfill, located at 11411 Landfill Road is open seven days per week from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. At the Bay County Government Center, Builders Services will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Code Enforcement will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Bay County Utilities Department, located at 3410 Transmitter Rd., will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Disaster Recovery Centers are open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. including Veteran’s Day from . They are located at the Bay County Public Library at 898 W. 11 St., and at the John B. Gore Park in Callaway, at 530 Beulah Ave.
Steel Field Landfill
Hurricane debris from a home can be dropped off at the Steel Field Landfill, located at 11411 Landfill Rd, Panama City Beach, at no charge. You must show proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or a bill. The revised hours are Monday – Sunday, 6 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
The FEMA Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program is available to provide unemployment benefits and reemployment services to individuals who have become unemployed as a result of Hurricane Michael. DUA benefits are generally paid for up to 26 weeks beginning with the first week following the date the major disaster began. Individuals are required to substantiate employment or self-employment or to substantiate work was to begin on or after the date of the disaster through documentation. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Nov. 14. Apply online through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity: http://www.floridajobs.org/office-directory/division-of-workforce-services/reemployment-assistance-programs/disaster-unemployment-assistance If you need assistance with filing for DUA, please call 1-800-385-3920.
Operation Blue Roof
At the request of the State of Florida and FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will continue to collect Right of Entry (ROE) forms for Operation Blue Roof through next Friday, Nov. 16, 2018.
In addition USACE warns homeowners of fraudulent programs that may be representing themselves as Operation Blue Roof. “If anyone approaches you asking for money for a blue roof, that is not our program. Operation Blue Roof is free at no cost to homeowners,” said Lt. Col. Richard Gussenhoven, USACE Task Force Michael Commander.
Homeowners who may suspect they are being scammed should contact FEMA (866-720-5721, TTY 844-889-4357), the Corps (888-766-3258) or local law enforcement. Homeowners may also report fraud in person at any ROE collection center.
Signs of fraud may include:
- No USACE quality assurance assessment
- No USACE contractor with valid work order
- Asking for payment
- Soliciting by paper applications
Eligibility requirements
• Only primary residences with standard shingled roofs.
• Metal roofs and mobile homes may be repaired as practical on a case-by-case basis.
• Roofs with greater than 50 percent structural damage are not eligible for this program.
• Every owner or landlord that has a signed Right of Entry form will be visited.
• If a home is being rented, the tenant must provide written permission from the owner prior to signing Right of Entry.
ROEs submitted Nov. 16 or prior will be evaluated and Blue Roof installations will continue as normal until complete.
ROE collections center are listed below.
Disaster Recovery Center (open through November 16th) Centers are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information or to apply, please visit www.usace.army.mil/blueroof or call 1-888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258).
Applying for FEMA assistance
FEMA is committed to ensuring that services and assistance are available for people with access and functional needs. FEMA offers many ways to help register by Dec. 10, 2018.
Equipped with accessible ramps, parking and restrooms, Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) provide one-on-one consultation and resources such as captioned phones and iPads linked to video-remote sign language interpreters. The DRCs are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. If a disaster survivor cannot travel to the DRC, FEMA will arrange a home visit.
- Bay County Public Library DRC898 W 11th Street, Panama City
- John B. Gore Park DRC 599 Beulah Ave., Callaway
A DRC provides survivors information about FEMA programs and can help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance. Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U. S. Small Business Administration, volunteer groups and other agencies will be at the center to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.
When registering, survivors should let FEMA staff know if they have an accommodation request.
Additional assistance is available below:
If you were affected by Hurricane Michael in Florida and need a sign language interpreter, foreign language translator, a Braille document or large-print or electronic file and it is not available on the FEMA website (Resources-people-disabilities-access-functional-needs), please call 470-364-7252.
To register for assistance, go to DisasterAssistance.gov, the FEMA app on phones/tablets, or call 800-621-3362, 800-462-7585 (TTY). Multilingual operators are available 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
Additional State of Florida resources for access needs include:
- Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living: 850-575-6004 or toll-free 866-575-6004; email Info@floridaCILS.org .
- Disability Resource Center: 850-769-6890; 866-954-5898 (TTY); email rcox66@drcpc.org.
- Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: toll free 866-602-3275; 866-602-327 (TTY); email info@fccdhh.org.
SBA Mobile Business Recover Centers
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the opening of a new Mobile Business Recovery Center (MBRC) in Lynn Haven to provide one–on-one assistance for businesses. The SBA offers low-interest, long-term disaster loans for physical damage and working capital. SBA representatives at the Centers will provide information about disaster loans, answer questions and assist businesses with completing the SBA application. The Business Recovery Centers are located as indicated below and will operate until further notice.
All Business Recovery Centers will close on Monday, Nov. 12 in recognition of Veterans Day and will reopen on Tuesday, Nov 13.
Bay County City Job Center Parking Lot
625 Hwy 231, Panama City, FL 32405
Hours: Mon – Sat, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Lynn Haven City Hall Parking Lot (NEW)
817 Ohio Ave, Lynn Haven, FL 32444
Hours: Mon – Sat, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closing: Saturday, Nov 17th
Disaster survivors don’t have to wait until their insurance claim is settled before applying for an SBA disaster loan because we can approve and disburse the loan funds while the claim is pending. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA will consider making a loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay their SBA loan.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 3.675 percent for businesses, 2.5 percent for nonprofit organizations and 2 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
SBA Customer Service Representatives are also located at the Disaster Recovery Centers. If you cannot get to a Center, disaster survivors may register for federal assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov and apply for SBA disaster loan assistance using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should also call 800-621-3362.
Additional details on the locations of Disaster Recovery Centers, Business Recovery Centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an e-mail to
disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
The filing deadline to return SBA disaster loan applications for physical property damage is Dec. 10, 2018. The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 11, 2019.