Latest news with #RobertCarroll
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bay County prepared for FEMA 'Claw Back' scenario
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The fight over Federal Emergency Management Agency funding continues, even after they already approved the funds. Bay County is one of several local governments experiencing what officials call 'Claw back.' Gulf Coast State College Hosts 3rd Annual Scholar's Day Commissioners are appealing FEMA's attempts to take back more than $27 million. After Hurricane Michael, FEMA approved funding to resurface roads heavily damaged during debris removal all over the panhandle. Bay County received some of that funding and used it on roads. Now FEMA officials are trying to take back that money. Panama City Beach Police Chief: It's over, I'm glad it's over 'We paved all those roadways. And now a decision was made that maybe we weren't eligible for those funds. And so therefore, there's a potential claw back of $27 million. And so what we're doing, we're appealing that. We think we'll be successful in getting that overturned because they did approve the project,' Bay County Commissioner Robert Carroll said. Washington County and the city of Panama City have similar battles with says they feel confident in the appeal process, that's been going on since January of 2024. But they're prepared for any outcome. 'We're just basically setting aside funds this year, that way, if there is a claw back, we'll have the funds. We don't need FEMA to come back and say, write us a check for $27 million that we don't have. So we're basically creating a savings account to put aside this money dedicated for this if FEMA decided not to continue to give us the funding,' added Carroll. The account is funded by surtax revenue. If the appeal is successful, the money will go to other county projects. Carroll says they don't know how much longer the appeal process will take. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Mexico Beach shoreline nearly restored after Hurricane Michael damage
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Besides homes and businesses, Hurricane Michael displaced more than 400 million cubic yards of Mexico Beach's shoreline. This year city officials began a re-nourishment project to put the sand back on the beach. Weeks Marine Company contractors are now putting the final touches on the project. 'We are doing the last minute part of it, which is the beach planting process where we're planting dune vegetation as well as finishing up some of the areas with the dunes and everything. We've been working on it for a little over eight years. Hurricane Michael did speed up the need to put our sand back essentially and strengthen our shoreline,' Community Development Council President Kimberly Shoaf said. Highway 90 closed in Mossy Head due to active incident at Dollar General The crew are worked in 1500-foot sections, moving westward down the beach. The three-month project added 3 miles of 14-foot dunes, starting from El Governor resort to the Mexico Beach canal. Contractors laid out their equipment to extract one million cubic yards of sand from a borrowed sand site that has the same quality of sand as Mexico Beach. They then used a dredge to excavate that sand up and bring it onto the beach to be spread out. 'So it's real high quality sand and just putting all that sand out there to help protect, you know, the homes and structures in the future. Because during Hurricane Michael, with 17, 20 foot waves and these dunes will help break those down and try to help those structures in the future,' Commissioner Robert Carroll said. Within two weeks the vegetation of the dunes will be complete. The project will be finalized in-time for the beginning of turtle season in May. The beach is currently open, but authorities are reminding people that walking on the dunes is illegal and carries a fine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
