x
Breaking News
More () »

Coastal Bend emergency planners in Florida to aid in hurricane recovery efforts

The Coastal Communities impacted by Michael are similar to those of Rockport and Port Aransas which saw significant damage from Harvey.

Florida (KIII News) — Emergency planners from the Coastal Bend toured a 40 mile stretch of Florida's coast that was impacted by Hurricane Michael.

Everywhere you look in Florida there is debris from damaged homes piled on the side of the road which is a stark reminder of what the Coastal Bend went through with Hurricane Harvey.

"Really, a nice beautiful community to come to and it will be again one day, but it's tough to see all the damage," storm victim Diana Burket said.

Hurricane Michael struck the Florida panhandle as a Category 4 storm in October casting a wake of destruction in its path.

The Coastal communities impacted by Michael are similar to those of Rockport and Port Aransas which saw significant damage from Harvey.

"The weeks following the storm so many people wanted to help," said Matthew White, worship pastor at Long Avenue Baptist Church in Port Saint Joe, Florida.

White is hoping to finish repairing his church in order to open it up to volunteer groups who are aiding in the recovery process.

"Teams that will continue to come in months, in probably years," White said,

Those teams include the non profit called SBP.

Zack Rosenburg with SBP spent time giving the gathering of mayors an update on the recovery process. "You can not keep learning the same lessons again, again, and again. We have to get better, and better, and better, " Rosenburg said.

The delegation from South Texas includes Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb, Woodsboro Mayor Kay Roach, Fulton Mayor Jimmy Kendrick, as well as a Judge Burt Mills from Aransas County.

The goal is to share the process of how our communities were able to get through the struggles of Hurricane Harvey and help expedite recovery for our friends in Florida.

The effort to bring the leaders together was spearheaded by Citgo.

"Its important to our corporation, its important to the city of Corpus Christi, and its important to the leadership, its a testament that they are here collaborating," said Citgo GM of Community Relations Larry Elizondo.

Stay connected with 3News for the latest news, sports, and weather. Download the KIII-TV 3News app now.

Have an idea for a story? Send news tips to news@kiiitv.com, and visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Before You Leave, Check This Out