County Struggles to Pay for Hurricane Michael School Damages

With students across Florida returning to classes in a few weeks, one county hit hard by last year’s devastating Hurricane Michael say it could take years before damage is completely fixed at area schools.

Bay County Schools officials told NBC affiliate WJHG-TV that they have been struggling to pay for repairs to schools in the county that total around $350 million.

“This is going to be a process of multiple years,” said director of facilities Lee Walters. “Any available resource we have is going towards repairs.”

Walters said crews have continued to work despite financial worries to restore the county’s school campus to full use. However, students at several schools could start – and possibly end – the upcoming year in portable classrooms.

“It’ll have a smaller footprint to have the least amount of impact on the learning environment as we possibly can with as many workers we can probably put on the campus,” he added.

Walters said the county is working with FEMA and other groups in an effort to find money to pay for repairs.