Almost a week after Hurricane Michael came ashore in Florida’s Panhandle the search for victims continues, and so does the recovery. The Washington Post reports:
In Bay County, Fla., where Michael made landfall last week as a powerful Category 4 storm, the sheriff said Tuesday that 12 hurricane-related deaths had been confirmed there. That pushes the total number of deaths linked to the storm to at least 28 people across four states, with other deaths in Florida under investigation and officials still exploring some of the most ravaged areas.
In the Florida Panhandle, getting a concrete number of fatalities is difficult because of the constant search and rescue efforts, spotty cell reception and overall rapid pace of recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, CNBC reports that the storm also had a big impact on farmers:
Agricultural damage from Hurricane Michael’s rampage last week across Georgia, Alabama and Florida is forecast to top $1.3 billion, with pecan and cotton farms the hardest hit as well as the region’s poultry operations, according to officials.
Vice President Mike Pence toured the area today.
#HurricaneMichael had a devastating impact on Georgia’s sunbelt & across the region, inflicting an estimated $2B worth of damage to the state's cotton, pecan & peanut crops. But the spirit of the people of this region & the strength of the people of Georgia is inspiring America. pic.twitter.com/heLTX5Srta
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) October 16, 2018
