On October 10, 2018 Hurricane Michael made landfall on the Florida Panhandle, damaging 60,000 homes and resulting in insured losses of nearly $7 billion.
From The Sonder Project’s headquarters in Santa Rosa Beach, we mobilized resources through our network and continued to support the recovery until every penny was spent.
Dollars Raised/Spent
Meals Served
Hurricane Michael statistics
People Requested Aid
Residential Property Insurance Claims
Billion in Damages
more debris than Hurricane Irma
THE SONDER PROJECT’S RESPONSE
Volunteer Hours
Households Supported
Families Sponsored for Christmas
Homes Cleared of Trees and Yard Debris
Homes Fitted with Tarps
Homes with Restored Electrical Power
Homes with Major Roof Repairs
Homes with Major Drywall Repairs
Homes Completely Rebuilt
the destruction we witnessed was terrible, but the resiliency we observed in the people we served was most powerful.
Hurricane Michael News
Two Years After Hurricane Michael: Returning to our Roots
As our Hurricane Michael recovery work comes to end, discover our impact and what comes next.
Annie-Jean
“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow may never be, so I am focused on today.” – Annie-Jean
Annie-Jean, 67, was born and raised in Panama City. The only time she spent elsewhere was a short stint working for Job Corps in New Jersey.
A Mother and her Daughter
A month after Hurricane Michael made landfall on October 10, 2018, The Sonder Project received a phone call from Tonya Hall, a residential nurse and Panama City resident.
Hurricane Michael One Year Later – A Friendship is Born
Charles and Tonya have been best friends ever since they met for the first time after Hurricane Michael. Charles Roberts and Tonya Hall were neighbors for four years, both living on the same dead-end street. Prior to Hurricane Michael, they’d never spoken. Charles...
Hurricane Michael One Year Later – The Golden Couple
After 72 years of marriage, the Harrells thought they’d been through it all. But it was the landfall of Hurricane Michael on October 10, 2018, when they thought they may have finally met their match. It wasn’t just the power of the storm itself, but the aftermath and...
HURRICANE MICHAEL ONE-YEAR LATER
As the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Michael approaches, we’d like to take time to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished. We would also like to look ahead.
Hurricane Dorian Response
Dear Sonder Supporters, In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, our thoughts and prayers go out to the people impacted – especially those in the Bahamas and along the East Coast. The road to recovery is long and the need for help is great. As a result, supporters have...
STORY FROM THE FIELD: Tish Ogden
Four Walls and a Blue Roof The day after Hurricane Michael made landfall at Panama City, Tish Ogden and her boyfriend, Mike, returned to their home in Bayside, a low-lying community just north of the Hathaway Bridge. As they drove through the battered neighborhoods,...
Hurricane Michael: A Family Reclaims Its Memories
Written by Christy Hughes When we met Celissia and her son Cameron, their lives had just collided with the unimaginable destruction that was Hurricane Michael. Nearly a Category 5 storm at landfall, it barreled its way into their home on October 10th and turned their...
Nov. Summary as of 11/20/18
It has been too long since we’ve updated our website with a report, but it’s certainly not from a lack of action! Since our last entry on October 31st, The Sonder Project has contributed… 17 Volunteer Days 147 Volunteers 1,171 Volunteer Hours 400 Meals Served 49...