Debris piles line Harrison Avenue and Baldwin Road in Panama City after Hurricane Michael in 2018. All photos courtesy of the City of Panama City.
Market Spotlight
Panama City
BY THOMAS EHLERS Staff Writer
REBUILDING AFTER HURRICANE DEVASTATION
Hurricane Michael devastated Panama City on Oct. 10, 2018, as a Category 5 hurricane, bringing sustained winds of 160 mph to Bay County. Nearly 90% of structures in Panama City were damaged or destroyed, and the city had lost 75-80% of its tree canopy by the end of the storm. While other parts of the Southeast felt Michael’s wrath, Panama City and Bay County were ground zero, sustaining 1.3 million more cubic feet of debris than all other 50 counties with damage combined. Less than two years later, Hurricane Sally stirred area waters. The storm brought weaker winds, but the city received over 14 inches of rain, plus additional storm surge, which caused Panama City’s sewer system to fail. Raw sewage entered waterways, leading to a swim advisory to keep individuals out of affected bodies of water. The combination of outdated utilities and historic hurricanes created a problem, but Panama City officials found a solution: the #RebuildPC initiative. In between the cyclones, the city started the initiative to guide recovery planning while promoting economic development and completing elements of Panama City’s master plan. #RebuildPC began as a single vision and framework for the city, but it has grown to encompass a spirit of growth and potential as new projects across the city continue to improve Panama City’s infrastructure and way of life. PUTTING THE COMMUNITY FIRST The City went straight to its citizens for their input on how the rebuilt Panama City should be shaped. City officials hosted more than 30 stakeholder meetings with help from consultant partners where citizens could engage in planning. This planning ENGINEERING FLORIDA | 23
