Today I saw destruction on a biblical scale

I’m posting from a little north and west of Panama City. I’ve been dispatched down here to help coordinate Cat product support down here after the local Cat Dealer’s Panama City branch got wiped out by Hurricane Michael. I spent my day in Panama City and Mexico Beach.

The devastation in the eastern half of Panama City is incredible. But the destruction in Mexico Beach is nothing short of total. I’ve seen destruction before. From the Highway of Death in Iraq to the aftermath of the massive tornado a few years ago that roared through Tuscaloosa and Jefferson County. But this down here is just on another scale. Here’s some of what I saw today.




(That’s one of the Beach houses. All the others were obliterated. This one was just blown clear across the road somewhat intact.)


This is what both sides of the highway between Tindal AF Base and Mexico Beach looks like. Literally every tree bigger around than your wrist has been snapped like a match stick. Just the timber loss alone is estimated at over a billion dollars.

I also shot some video but I have no idea how or where I could upload it to share here.