An Update on the Aftermath of Hurricane Michael

“I know some of you just went through a terrifying experience. The reports we’re getting of the destruction tell us that Hurricane Michael tore up homes and workplaces.

I want to say it did not batter your spirit, but that seems too glib. If your home was destroyed, if you experienced the anxiety of being cut off from all communications, if you spent hours fearing for your safety and for your loved ones, I know the healing will take time.

If you are among those traumatized by yesterday’s events, please take care of yourselves and your families. We will need your strength and commitment to help take care of others — later. If you escaped relatively unscathed, then please support those IFAS family members who were not so lucky.

As administrators, we can fix broken things. Indeed, we sent out crews today with generators, chainsaws, and even duct tape – whatever it takes to patch up the damage to facilities in Quincy and Marianna and Bay and Gulf counties.

Those tools don’t fix emotional pain. People do. Fortunately, you work with people who can help and who want to help.

If you need help, you are not weak. You are human. A hurricane is a terrifying thing. I hope asking colleagues for help is not.

Please reach out – to your co-workers, to your supervisors, to me – with what you need. Or let us know the truth when we ask how you’re doing and how we can help.

For now, I’m relieved to inform you that there are no reports of any IFAS employee being seriously physically harmed in the storm.

In time you’ll get a full accounting of what Michael damaged. We’ll never be able to catalog the emotional distress it has caused.

Today, Oct. 11, the Day After, is the day we begin a journey back to how things were on Oct. 9. It will take some time. Let’s walk together.”

As of today, some of our Florida Sea Grant and UF/IFAS Extension agents are surveying the damage to their homes using imagery that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has made available: Hurricane Michael Imagery

The communities impacted can use all the help they can get.

If you feel inclined to help by donating money or volunteering, please visit Volunteer Florida. Through Volunteer Florida, Hurricane Michael dollars go quickly to where it’s most needed and volunteers are connected to official recovery efforts. Keep in mind that rogue volunteers can unintentionally strain limited disaster resources.

For more info, visit: https://www.volunteerflorida.org/

Although we understand the storm devastated homes and businesses, we do know our affected faculty and staff are safe. Most evacuated and are unable to return to their homes at present. According to Florida 511, all EB lanes of I-10 are closed from US-331, MM 85 to the Appalachicola River, MM 160. All WB lanes of I-10 are closed from the Appalachicola River to SR-77, MM 120 as of 7 a.m. this morning.

We invite you to share your updates on our Facebook thread: Hurricane Michael Updates

We also encourage you to visit “Hurricane Michael: Helpful Resources from UF/IFAS Extension,”which is being continually updated with new disaster recovery resources as they become known.

UF IFAS Solutions is also adding resources to disaster.ifas.ufl.edu.