Courthouse Reopens Recovery by the Numbers
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MALL SHOPPERS: A WELCOME DISTRACTION LOCAL | A3 PANAMA CITY LOCAL & STATE | A3 FLAGS A SYMBOL OF HOPE AFTER HURRICANE MICHAEL Tuesday, October 30, 2018 www.newsherald.com @The_News_Herald facebook.com/panamacitynewsherald 75¢ Navy personnel reporting for duty Hurricane Michael reporters on Monday there three weeks of inactivity. causes limited was one final list to review: With the help of Naval damage to base the many blessings that Mobile Construction Bat- the base and its people can talion 11 based in Gulfport, By Ed Offley count. Mississippi, the base’s road Special to The News Herald Unlike Tyndall Air Force network has been cleared of Base, which sustained major felled trees, and a detailed NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIV- damage to most of its physi- inspection of the base water ITY — For the past 18 days cal infrastructure, NSA-PC system has identified areas after Hurricane Michael, avoided the brunt of the needing repair. Likewise, Commander Jay Sego and his storm, Sego said. None of electricity, telephone ser- staff have worked nonstop the 49 houses on base sus- vice and computer network assessing the storm damage tained serious damage, and capabilities are returning to that brought operations at the hurricane’s wind direc- normal, Sego said. Families this 657-acre research and tion resulted in few breaches living on base — who were development facility to a in the base perimeter fence forced to evacuate along halt. because of downed trees. with the rest of the workers After obtaining a muster Nevertheless, a number of — began returning during the of 100 percent of the com- buildings received moder- weekend. mand’s 2,800 military and ate to severe damage and will Commanders of various Commander Jay Sego, at podium, addresses reporters on the civilian employees, inspect- require substantial repairs tenant organizations at the storm damage to Naval Support Activity-Panama City on Monday ing each of the base’s 221 during the months ahead, base voiced similar assess- morning. With Sego, from left, are Master Chief Mark Kennan, OIC buildings for wind damage, he said. ments of how the storm of the Coast Guard detachment Panama City; Capt. Aaron Peters, surveying its water lines for Sego said it is too early to disrupted their operations, commander of NSWC Panama City; Commander Sam Brasfi eld, leaks, and counting each of provide a monetary estimate although the specific impact commander of the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center; and the hundreds of felled trees for the structural damage Capt. Jay Young, commander of the Navy Experimental Diving Unit. needing removal, Sego told and economic impact from See NAVY, A2 [ED OFFLEY/THE NEWS HERALD] Hurricane Michael Courthouse reopens recovery by the numbers News Herald staff report PANAMA CITY — Nine- teen days out from Hurricane Michael, recovery has been a slow but steady process. Here’s a look at some of the important numbers related to that effort, as of Monday. For more recovery information, visit www.recoverbaycounty. org. 21 — Number of casualties confi rmed by the Medical Examiner’s Offi ce. 58 — Number of people arrested by all agencies on sus- picion of looting charges. 220 — Number of people arrested by all agencies for breaking curfew. See NUMBERS, A2 The Bay County Courthouse on Monday. [JOSHUA BOUCHER/THE NEWS HERALD] Hearings on ‘limited schedule’ for time being By Zack McDonald courts throughout the 14th records, traffic citations to waste gas coming down The News Herald Judicial Circuit, all county payments or domestic mat- here,” he said. “We will [email protected] and circuit courthouses ters — are operational. As notice people of alternate SPORTS | B1 as of Monday — with Bay, for criminal and civil hear- hearings, or they can call PANAMA CITY — Under a Gulf and Jackson counties ings, though, the state of the and we’ll look at individual DARKEST mangled metal skeleton that coming online last — were current system is less clear. cases. We’re not going to used to be a canopy, dozens opening for the first time Since each judge is a con- be levying penalties if they WEEKEND of people entered into the since undergoing storm stitutional officer, they are don’t make their court Bay County Courthouse on repairs and relocations. individually determining appearances. We’ll get it AS STATE’S Monday to handle business Now, officials will begin the priority of each case to all caught up and squared put on pause by Hurricane the tedious task of resched- schedule hearings. In Bay away.” 3 NFL, BIG Michael. uling hundred of cases that County, Clerk of Courts His office can be reached Almost three weeks fell with deadlines during Bill Kinsaul said that any at 850-763-9061. 3 COLLEGE since landfall of the his- the closures. confusion can be cleared up Kinsaul said officials are TEAMS LOSE toric storm temporarily Most of the functions of by mail or phone. halted operations of the the courthouses — property “We don’t want people See COURT, A2 Panama City News Herald Business .........................A9 Obituaries ...................... A5 TODAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Want to subscribe? Diversions ......................B6 Sports.........................B1-4 Fog Partly sunny T-storms Call 850-747-5050 Local & State .............. A3-6 Viewpoints .....................A8 81° / 60° 82° / 70° 79° / 60° * ** A2 Tuesday, October 30, 2018 | The News Herald damage, said Capt. Jay NAVY Young, its command- General takes charge of broken city ing officer. Most of From Page A1 the unit’s 140 military Panama City city and civilian employees manager’s boots have returned and are walking ground of did vary from one unit on board, he said. another disaster to another. “We’re fully opera- While the Naval tional,” Young said. By Tamara Lush Diving and Salvage “Yes, it’s only three The Associate Press Training Center has weeks (that work was been able to bring back halted by the storm), PANAMA CITY — Mark its 190-man train- but it’s a busy three McQueen’s sand-col- ing staff and the 200 weeks. The taskings ored combat boots have students enrolled in have not gone away, walked the ground during current diving classes, some of them will shift” many disasters. Commander Sam Bras- to a later date. Afghanistan. field said the school will “There are still many Iraq. not be able to resume its challenges remaining Panama City. full training schedule as we recover,” Sego The two-star gen- until January. said. “We have team- eral had no sooner Likewise, Capt. mates who have lost retired from the Army Aaron Peters said the homes and the base has and started his job as Naval Surface War- sustained damage to city manager for this fare Center staff was buildings that will take Bay County community able to shift some of time to repair. But we when it was slammed by a its research and devel- are fortunate and will category 4 hurricane. Hur- opment work to an continue … all our pri- ricane Michael became the Panama City City Manager Mark McQueen stands Wednesday near an area destroyed adjunct facility in South mary missions here on most devastating hurricane by Hurricane Michael in Panama City. The retired two-star general started his new job Florida, but will see the installation.” to hit Florida in decades. just two weeks before the storm. [TAMARA LUSH/AP] unavoidable delays in Sego and his tenant Almost all of Panama work while repairs pro- unit commanders City’s water, sewer, elec- of the largest hurricane Herald what he wanted to trees,” he said. “One hun- ceed on the 12 buildings said their greatest tric and cellphone services responses in history, and accomplish in his first 120 dred percent collapse of in his command that accomplishment was were wiped out. donated a kidney. days. infrastructure.” were damaged. successfully account- Despite McQueen To a stranger. He spoke of looking His own home wasn’t “My No. 1 task now ing for all of the people having no municipal expe- In August, he donated “down and in” and “up and damaged — “only a few is getting people back who work at NSA-PC, rience and having been on his left kidney to a man out” to set the framework roof tiles” — which allowed here and supporting and for helping them the job only two weeks, at his church, and took a for a long-term strate- him to pour all of his focus the (Navy) warfighter,” find emergency lodg- city leaders say he’s exactly few weeks to recover (the gic plan. He mentioned into the city. Peters said. ing and other assistance the man they need for the recipient is doing well). five-year goals and a long- Now, more than two By shifting teams during the weeks after long recovery ahead. McQueen came to term vision that stretched weeks after the storm, from damaged the storm. “I believe the Lord sent Panama City in 1988 for a toward 2050. he still is sleeping in the buildings to intact Navy commands him,” Panama City Com- job at a local community All that lasted approxi- chief’s office, but took a structures, and imple- throughout Florida, missioner Billy Rader said. college. He met his wife mately two weeks. day to fly to Washington, menting a “maxi-flex” as well as Bay County, “God knew this was going here, and they raised their When Hurricane D.C. schedule that enables Panama City and to happen before we did.” two children here. During Michael bore down on the His retirement cer- employees to adjust Panama City Beach The 58-year-old was the years, he rose in the Panhandle, he ordered an emony from the military their hours so as to be governments also were a rare choice when com- ranks of the military, from evacuation for parts of the was Friday.