Hurricane Michael devastated the Panhandle. Recovery is still ongoing.

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach in Bay County on October 10, 2018 as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph — making it the most powerful hurricane to strike the Florida Panhandle in recorded history and only the fourth Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the continental United States. The storm's rapid intensification in the 24 hours before landfall left many residents with little time to prepare or evacuate.

Mexico Beach — a small Gulf Coast community directly at Michael's landfall point — was virtually destroyed. An estimated 80% of structures in Mexico Beach were severely damaged or destroyed. Panama City and Lynn Haven in Bay County experienced catastrophic wind damage — with widespread roof destruction, downed trees, and infrastructure damage that left communities without power for weeks. The storm's winds extended deep into the Panhandle interior — devastating communities in Jackson, Calhoun, Washington, Holmes, and Gadsden counties.

Hurricane Michael caused an estimated $25 billion in damage across the Florida Panhandle — and its effects on the region's housing, insurance market, and economy have been felt for years. Many Panhandle homeowners are still navigating Michael-related insurance disputes, contractor issues, and long-term structural concerns years after the storm made landfall.