Michael lays bare Panhandle’s weaker building codes

Unlike in South Florida, homes in the state's Panhandle did not have tighter building codes until just 11 years ago; it was once argued that acres of forests would provide the region with a natural barrier against the savage winds of a hurricane. When many of the homes on the Panhandle were built, the state had a patchwork of codes from which some buildings here were exempt.

Michael’s destruction reveals region’s weaker building codes

Unlike in South Florida, homes in the state's Panhandle did not have tighter building codes It was once argued that the trees would help save Florida's Panhandle from the fury of a hurricane, as the acres of forests in the region would provide a natural barrier to savage winds that accompany the deadly storms. It's part of the reason that tighter building codes - mandatory in places such as South Florida - were not put in place for most of this region until just 11 years ago.

The Latest: Governor’s debate to be canceled due to storm Source: AP

The first debate between the two candidates running for Florida governor is going to be cancelled due to Hurricane Michael. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum announced Saturday on Facebook that he cannot get back out on the campaign trail until at least next Wednesday due to damage caused by the storm.

GOP ad against Gillum stirs up political storm

While Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum was managing the city's response to a hurricane of historic proportions, his supporters were engaged in a separate storm because of a negative campaign ad lobbed by backers of the Democrat's gubernatorial opponent, Ron DeSantis. With Hurricane Michael barreling toward Florida's Big Bend and Panhandle regions, the Republican Party of Florida unleashed a caustic television ad declaring Gillum is "running for governor and also from the FBI."

Hurricane Michael: Florida’s Bay County, Mexico Beach unsafe to…

Hurricane Michael: Florida's Bay County, Mexico Beach unsafe to return and 'it's going to be a long time,' FEMA officials say Hurricane Michael: Florida's Bay County, Mexico Beach unsafe to return and 'it's going to be a long time,' FEMA officials say Federal officials warned Friday that parts of Florida remain unsafe to return after Hurricane Michael's devastation Check out this story on portclintonnewsherald.com: Hurricane Michael: Florida's Bay County, Mexico Beach unsafe to return and 'it's going to be a long time,' FEMA officials say The Federal Emergency Management Agency is pleading with residents who have been displaced from their homes due to Hurricane Michael, to please be patient before they return home, because it may not be safe.

Hurricane Michael: Towns in Florida Panhandle ‘devastated like a war zone’

Entire oceanfront communities in the Florida Panhandle were virtually obliterated, an Air Force base suffered "catastrophic" damage and at least six people were killed by Hurricane Michael , a sucker-punch of a storm that intensified suddenly and now ranks as one of the four most powerful hurricanes ever to strike the United States. "This one just looks like a bomb dropped," said Clyde Cain, who is with the Louisiana Cajun Navy, a group of volunteer search-and-rescue teams that went to Florida to help in Michael's wake, just as they did last month during Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas.

AP Photos: Hurricane leaves Florida’s Mexico Beach in shreds

Hurricane Michael all but erased the tiny community of Mexico Beach on Florida's Gulf Coast, reducing some homes to mere concrete slabs and leaving others in shreds. Rescuers and residents struggled Thursday to get into town to assess the damage and search for the missing after it was slammed by 155 mph winds and a 9-foot storm surge.

Commissioner Adam Putnam Briefs Vice President Mike Pence and…

Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle, and today Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam briefed Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on the initial agricultural damage assessment. "Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle, and the safety of all Floridians is our top priority.

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Provides Search…

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is assisting with response and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Michael. The department is providing Search & Rescue crews, Chainsaw Strike Teams, and securing food and water for impacted areas, among other efforts.

‘Apocalyptic:’ One Florida town demolished by Michael

Mishelle McPherson looks for her friend in the rubble of her home, since she knows she stayed behind in the home during Hurricane Michael, in Mexico Beach, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. Mishelle McPherson looks for her friend in the rubble of her home, since she knows she stayed behind in the home during Hurricane Michael, in Mexico Beach, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018.

Henderson: Polls show strong voter support for Amendment 4

Florida remains divided on many political issues, but there seems to be strong bipartisan agreement about the issue of restoring voting rights for convicted felons, formally known as Amendment 4. As Florida Politics reported, a recent poll showed 74 percent support for the constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would strike down voting prohibitions for felons who have completed their sentences and parole or probation requirements. Those convicted of murder or sexual offenses would continue to be banned.

HART Launches a New Era of the TECO Line Streetcar System at Ribbon Cutting Event

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority hosted a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, October 12, 2018, to commemorate a "New Era of Transit" for the TECO Line Streetcar System. "Our customers wanted a service that fits the changing regional patterns of development and population trends, and a foundation to grow ridership," said HART Interim CEO Jeff Seward.

What’s happening: Hurricane Michael hits Florida, Georgia

Hurricane Michael is one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the U.S., and the proof is strewn across miles of Florida's coastline: Roofs and awnings peeled from buildings, pieces of homes scattered amid snapped trees and downed power lines, chunks of beaches washed away. After landfall in Florida, Michael's strong winds and heavy rains thrashed Georgia and headed toward the Carolinas, including areas that got a soaking last month from Hurricane Florence.

Monstrous’ Hurricane Michael heads towards Florida

A fast and furious Hurricane Michael sped towards Florida on Tuesday night with 120mph winds and a potential storm surge of 13 feet, giving tens of thousands of people little time to get out or board up. Drawing energy from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the storm strengthened rapidly into a potentially devastating Category 3. It was forecast to blow ashore around midday on Wednesday near Panama City Beach, along a lightly populated stretch of fishing villages and white-sand beaches.

Florida Midterm Could Prove a Landmark Moment for Representative Democracy at a National Level

Long overdue re-enfranchisement of former felons and a progressive Democratic Gubernatorial candidate both on the 2018 ballot could result in a national sea change for 2020... Kav Confirm All But Certain and the SCOTUS Case Cited as a Reason for the Rush: 'BradCast' 10/5/18 Big Oil a big winner in Trump's new NAFTA deal; Two simultaneous Category 5's in the Pacific; Arctic sea ice hits new low; PLUS : Tesla's Big Battery a big hit in South Australia... Guests: AUDIT-USA's Emily Levy, attorney Chris Sautter; Also: FBI ignoring Kavanaugh witnesses, Trump mocks accuser, Americans can't wait to vote... Guest: David Dayen on new NAFTA, CA Net Neutrality, Amazon's new min wage; Also: Repubs hope to force vote, bury FBI probe on Kavanaugh... Florence 2nd wettest storm in US history; NC now fighting giant mosquitoes; Admin cites climate change to roll back fuel standards; PLUS: France calls on ... (more)