both struggles and suffering in the
Panhandle four days after Hurricane
Michael crashed ashore the devastation
is extensive and electricity isn't
expected to be restored for several more
days Governor Rick Scott touring the
tragedy today on the ground in Mexico
beach going one on one with people
impacted by the storm
as crews sift through the rubble many
people are still left unaccounted for
the dangerous task of sifting through
piles and piles of debris that's
underway right now local 10 News
reporter Christian dela Rosa he's live
in Port Saint Joe with the latest on the
recovery efforts Christian and it starts
with turning the power back on to this
region especially areas most affected
we're talking Panama City East
Apalachicola this right here is a public
library parking lot that's become a
staging area to Electric Company
vehicles as you see behind me they've
come from all over the southeast to try
to get the power back on electric
company officials tell us this isn't a
repair operation but a pretty much
complete rebuild operation just to give
you an idea they're bringing in some
5,000 light poles that have to be
installed they tell us that for most of
the region they expect the power to be
fully restored but that will take at
least two weeks going into day five
recovery crews are still trying to get
to communities still unreachable
officials on the ground say there are
neighborhoods that no longer exist also
on the ground crews from miami-dade Fire
and Rescue assisting local authorities
doing welfare checks helping search for
survivors and surveying the
unprecedented damage and as the cleanup
and rebuilding continues many of those
who heeded the call to evacuate are
trying to get back home we met Christina
Craddock along i-10 with her three
children she's on her way back to her
home in Panama City there's a tree one
of my trees went through the roof the
roof is ripped off the ceilings are all
caved in through my bedroom my son's
room
my kitchen it's it's pretty pretty well
it's it's gone she wrote this message on
her van window
Michael you took my home but you will
never take our spirit now the official
death toll of hurricane Michael still
remains there stands at 18 but you set
it off the top forward of Governor Rick
Scott and several other emergency
officials did serve a much more of the
area especially around Mexico Beach to
look at the damage we know that there
are still neighborhoods areas across a
panhandle that have been unreachable and
tonight he was pressed on whether based
on what he saw if he believes that death
toll is likely to rise there was no
definitive answer but again keep in mind
many many neighborhoods are still
unreachable in fact some emergency
officials on the ground say that they
are neighborhoods that no longer exist
back to you Christian that's kind of
what I wanted to ask you how has it been
so far for you guys trying to get around
I mean are things even open are you guys
able to easily travel down some of the
main thoroughfares well I can tell you
there's a curfew in effect from 6:30
p.m. to 6:30 a.m. and as we were getting
closer to the pan to handle we were
stopped by police officers that are
patrolling the area they asked us for
media credentials and they told us to be
careful you know that curfew is in
effect because there is no power there
are still downed power lines everywhere
and so it is very dangerous to be
outside I can tell you a huge concern
people are being asked to please stay
indoors until the Sun comes up there
most of the hotels in the area are
closed gas stations are closed there are
no grocery stores open and again we are
heading into day five what we've noticed
is that those people who have been able
to get in their vehicles get enough gas
and leave the area we met people up in
Tallahassee that we're up there trying
to buy groceries or water bottles and
bring them back down
here and this is the way it's expected
to remain for at least a few more days
or at least until the power is fully
restored again what we're hearing is
that will take at least two weeks Thank
You Christian stay safe we appreciate
your live report there from port st. Joe