Dunn tours Mexico Beach ahead of Michael anniversary

News Herald (Panama City, FL)

Oct. 5--MEXICO BEACH -- Days before the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Michael devastating Mexico Beach, local U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn was given a tour of the area Friday by Police Chief Andrew Kelly.

Dunn and Kelly looked at damaged and recovering houses, a vacant gas station along the main roadway of U.S. 98 and checked in at Mango Marley's, a restaurant that reopened after the storm. The first anniversary for Hurricane Michael--which made landfall near Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base--is Thursday.

"They've come amazingly far--great morale, great people," Dunn said. "Businesses are coming back. Homes are coming back. They've got almost everything except a gas station and I'm going to help them."

Dunn has been an advocate for the area since Hurricane Michael hit and frequently expressed shock and frustration when a supplemental disaster aid bill was not initially passed by Congress after the storm. The bill was passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in June.

The gas station Dunn and Kelly checked out does not currently have operating pumps. No gas station in town means a long drive for people coming from the rest of Bay County or heading to Port St. Joe.

"You just don't realize. You just take that for granted," Kelly said. "You just assume it's going to be here. A gas station is a positive plus and it's just one more thing that shows the community is growing."

Dunn and Kelly also dropped by the Mango Marley's food truck and spoke to employee Morgan Ryffé, who was happy to see them. Mango Marley's has served first responders, recovery workers and others since the storm.

"We're glad to be here," said Ryffé, who lives down 19th Street and noted there aren't street signs anymore.

Signs of recovery have been visible lately in Mexico Beach after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a $1.1 million grant for the Mexico Beach Fire Department and law enforcement services and U.S. 98 reopened after post-Michael repair work. Kelly said Mexico Beach is not forgotten and the closed portion of U.S. 98 reopening is good for businesses.

"To have 98 open back up, to get the heavy equipment out of the residential area on 15th Street, safety-wise that's a positive plus," Kelly said. "Having 98 back open is great for the community."

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