Nearly 8 months after Hurricane Michael, community reacts to disaster bill’s passage

June 04-- Jun. 4--BAY COUNTY -- Leaders in Bay County are hailing the expected signing of a supplemental disaster aid bill as a win for the area, particularly for Tyndall Air Force Base, a major local employer.

The House of Representatives passed the bill Monday by a 354-58 vote. The Senate passed the bill in May and President Donald Trump is expected to give final approval. The legislation will help areas affected by recent natural disasters in a number of ways, including around $1 billion for the rebuilding of Tyndall after severe damage from Hurricane Michael.

The Bay Defense Alliance, a group that advocates for the local military bases and communities, believes the bill will help ease any concerns that may still exist about the future of the base, said President Tom Neubauer.

"We are grateful for the strong commitment of the Air Force to rebuild Tyndall as the base of the future and the persistent efforts of our congressional delegation and their professional legislative staffers who continued to work this problem to a successful conclusion," Neubauer said. "There should be no doubt in the minds of local business and property owners that Tyndall Air Force Base is coming back in a big way, as the Air Force moves forward with the strategic basing process to bring three operational F-35 squadrons and an RPA (remotely piloted aircraft) MQ-9 Wing to our community."

The community "must stand by our commitment to the Air Force" and "ensure that returning airmen and their families have the good housing, quality schools and medical care and the outstanding quality of life Bay County has always been known for," Neubauer said.

Mitzi Prater, co-chair of the government relations committee for Michael's Angels, a women's group advocating for Hurricane Michael recovery, also said the relief funding will help Tyndall rebuild. In general, the bill also provides about $3 billion for crop and livestock losses for all disasters; $3 million in NOAA asset, property and equipment repairs and $28.4 million in repairs to federal prison buildings and facilities across disasters.

"This is really good for our farmers. They'll get reimbursed for crop and livestock losses," Prater said. "We're really excited about this. We think it will get us on the upswing."

The incoming aid will also give people hope and help others affected by other natural disasters, Prater said.

One of those hopeful people is Callaway Mayor Pamn Henderson. Tyndall is crucial to the economy and culture of Callaway and surrounding towns.

"The base is important to the entire county, but especially to the municipalities on the east side -- Callaway, Parker, Springfield," Henderson said. "This will be key in retaining our residents and in retaining old businesses and attracting new businesses. Hopefully, this is just the start of funding that will allow our area to rebuild much needed housing and infrastructure."

Eastern Bay County was hit hard by Hurricane Michael and the small municipalities face huge debris clean-up costs. The bill provides $2.431 billion to help communities affected by disasters rebuild housing, businesses and public infrastructure.

Lynn Haven Mayor Margo Anderson said she is "very grateful" the Florida Panhandle is finally getting funding through the bill but continues "to be amazed that most of the country is unaware that the third largest hurricane in recorded history came ashore here and basically destroyed entire cities with, what I perceive to be, the least national media coverage of any disaster in history."

Some news outlets have continued covering the ongoing aftermath in the Panhandle, though some survivors feel it has not received the same attention as previous disasters or national political issues.

"This disaster relief bill, while it will be in many ways a salvation to our area, is too little, too late, and was held up by elected officials more interested in their own pompous arrogance than in the suffering of thousands of families trying to survive without even the basic necessities for almost eight months," Anderson said.

Three House Republicans -- Chip Roy of Texas, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and John Rose of Tennessee -- recently stalled attempts to pass the bill by unanimous consent while the House was in recess. During their separate and individual objections, they variously said they were concerned about not all House members being present to debate and vote, the cost of the bill and a lack of funding for border security. All three, joined by 55 other Republicans, voted against the bill on Monday.

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