Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal, Jimmy Patronis, stopped by Clermont Fire Station 1 Thursday to hand out letters of thanks to the seven members of the fire department who responded to Hurricane Michael. The hurricane, which made landfall near Mexico Beach in Florida on Oct. 10, was the strongest storm on record in the Florida Panhandle.
“I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you,” Patronis said. “I can’t repay you for what you’ve done, but I’ll guarantee you you’ll always have an advocate in Tallahassee.”
He went on to say the devastation was so severe, it will be 20 years before certain parts of the area will look like what it used to.
Each of the participants received a letter of appreciation from Patronis, who was born and raised in Panama City.