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The
Importance of
Commercial Truck Insurance in Panama City, FL
- Let's face it - truckers in America have always been the backbone of our great country. They still are in modern times. On any given day, thousands of trucks traverse our highways and local roads, delivering goods and products on time so that businesses and consumers have what they need to live life. And while commercial trucking can be an incredibly lucrative way to make a living and put food on the table, it can also be risky and expensive.
- Whether you're the owner of a fleet, an independent trucker, or have a business that uses big rigs to transport goods, you need commercial trucking insurance to protect you and your client's investments, shield you from liability, and more.
- That's where working with a reliable truck insurance agency comes into play. Unfortunately, for many commercial truck insurance providers, serving the needs of truckers is low on the proverbial totem pole. At Independence Insurance Agency, nothing could be further from the truth.
Service Areas
The Commercial Truck
Insurance Agency in Panama City, FL You Can Trust
Much like you pride yourself on running a successful trucking business, Independence Insurance Agency prides itself on its years of experience providing truck insurance for hardworking men and women across the country. And in our experience, insurance rates for truckers are just too high - so high, in fact, that they eat away at their bottom line, making it more difficult to run a business and make a profit. Fortunately, at Independence Insurance Agency, we provide truckers the freedom they need from astronomically high insurance rates so they can stay on the road and keep driving America forward.
As one of the most trusted commercial trucking insurance agencies in the U.S., we understand the challenges that you face daily as a trucker. We also know how important it is to protect your business. That's why we go above and beyond to find you the best-priced coverage available, whether you're an operator, own a small fleet, a large fleet, or something in between.
We Put Truckers First Because Others Don't
Truckers across the country choose to work with Independence Insurance Agency because we put their needs first before anything else. As experts in transportation insurance, we proudly offer a range of quality insurance products that are both practical and affordable for them. Our industry-leading carriers provide coverage that caters to the unique challenges faced by the trucking industry, ensuring that your business is protected at all times.
At our core, we are committed to finding the best possible price for your coverage without compromising the quality of service you deserve. The truth is, we understand how essential truckers are to the United States and take pride in making their insurance experience more streamlined and affordable.
One way we do so is by simplifying the insurance process. Our transportation specialists take the time to understand your specific needs and budget to tailor a comprehensive plan that works for you. You won't ever have to worry about cookie-cutter plans or uninterested agents when you work with our commercial trucking insurance agency. We take an educational approach to ensure that the entire big rig insurance process is quick, painless, and easy to understand. If there's something you don't understand, we're happy to take the time to explain. After all, the success and safety of your business are on the line.
Looking to the future, we are committed to providing innovative new products that cater to the ever-changing needs of truck drivers. As your one-stop shop for commercial trucking insurance, we are dedicated to your success, one policy at a time.
If you're a commercial trucker looking to ensure your rig, you can rest easy knowing that Independence Insurance Agency provides:
- Affordable Trucking Insurance Plans for Any Budget
- Exemplary Customer Service
- Seasoned Transportation Specialists Who Customize Plans to Your Needs
- A+ Carriers Across the Country
- Simple, Easy Quote and Bind Process
- Multiple Insurance Carriers Quoted to Find You the Best Rates
- Truck Insurance for New Ventures
Call us or send us a message today to learn more about the best 18-wheeler insurance options for your trucking business.
The Commercial Truck
Common Types of Big Rig Truck Insurance in Panama City, FL
At Independence Insurance Agency, we offer several types of insurance coverage for local, intermediate, and long-haul trucking needs. Here are just a few categories of trucking insurance coverage that our agency offers.
As the foundation of your insurance policy, liability coverage is required by law in most states in the U.S. It provides coverage for damage or injuries caused to properties or other people if your 18-wheeler is responsible for the crash. Without liability coverage, it's almost impossible to drive a truck or run a trucking business without major legal consequences.
Having physical damage coverage is an essential component that shouldn't be overlooked. This insurance is responsible for covering the expenses related to repairing or replacing your truck in situations such as accidents, theft, vandalism, and other damaging events. By having this coverage, you can rest assured that your business won't be affected significantly by unexpected incidents, and you can continue running your operations smoothly even in challenging times.
For trucking companies, the goods they transport are crucial to their operations. To protect these goods from damage, loss, or theft while in transit, cargo insurance is essential. This coverage provides much-needed peace of mind for both you and your clients, allowing you to reimburse clients for any losses sustained while protecting your reputation and brand identity.
Non-Trucking Liability Insurance is designed to cover property damage or bodily injury that may occur during personal time when the driver/truck is not under dispatch. This coverage can be applied with or without a trailer and is added to a commercial policy as an endorsement.
While Independence Insurance Agency has built a reputation of excellence in serving the needs of truckers, we also offer general liability. Also known as Truckers General Liability, this coverage insures for bodily injuries or property damage that happen due to business activities that are NOT the cause of operating a truck. It covers accidents that occur in parking lots, rest stops, also while loading or unloading. General liability can also cover losses related to theft and vandalism. Most brokers and shippers will require this coverage to work with you.
Bobtail insurance is a type of coverage that is comparable to non-trucking liability, which is designed to offer protection when driving a truck without a trailer attached. This is commonly referred to as "bobtailing." With bobtail insurance, the tractor is covered at all times, even when it is not attached to a trailer, regardless of whether or not the truck is under dispatch.
Trailer interchange insurance is a must-have if you're involved in a trailer interchange agreement. This essential coverage offers protection for trailers owned by other parties that you're using under a contractual agreement. It covers damages caused by collisions, fire, theft, and vandalism, providing assurance to all parties involved.
Curious whether our commercial truck insurance agency in cityname, state offers additional coverage? The following options can be bound in your insurance policy:
- Business Interruption Insurance
- Reefer Breakdown Insurance
- Occupational Accident with Contract Liability Insurance
- Rental Reimbursement Insurance
- Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Insurance
- Towing Insurance
- Electronics Insurance
- Much More
3 Safe Driving Tips to
Lower the Cost of Truck Insurance in Panama City, FL
Keeping your drivers safe on the road is crucial not only for their own well-being but also for the safety of other motorists and the financial stability of your business. The Department of Labor has identified the trucking industry as one of the most hazardous sectors in the U.S. In fact, trucking and logistics fleets are known for their high injury and fatality rates. By improving how safely your truckers drive, you can help reduce expenses related to claim payouts, accidents, and insurance premium hikes.
Whether you own a large fleet or you're the owner and operator of a single rig, keep these safe driving tips in mind to help lower your insurance costs.
Implement Preventative Maintenance Plans
Ensuring the safety of your drivers begins with the safety of their vehicles. Trucks and tractor-trailers that do not receive regular maintenance, such as oil and brake pad changes, are more likely to experience breakdowns while on the road. Telematics devices provide real-time insight into engine and odometer data, including fault codes.
This information enables your mechanics to create comprehensive preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, history of previous breakdowns, days, and more. Additionally, they can receive immediate notifications for critical fault codes. By implementing routine maintenance and proactive repair schedules, you can ensure that your vehicles are in top condition, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can help reduce the cost of trucker insurance.
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Practice Defensive Driving
This approach aims to mitigate the risk of fatal crashes and injuries by proactively identifying and responding to potentially dangerous situations and making informed decisions while driving. By adopting defensive driving techniques, drivers can reduce their likelihood of accidents, thereby minimizing the need for expensive repairs, claim payouts, and increased insurance premiums.
Some of the easiest ways for you or your drivers to practice safe driving include:
- Be Wary of Blind Spots: Operating a reefer or tractor-trailer means driving high off of the ground, which can make visibility limited, especially in blind spots. To check your blind spot, look over your shoulder and out of your windows while changing lanes.
- Be Ready for Emergencies on the Road: It's important for drivers to be ready for unexpected situations when driving, especially during long trips. They should be equipped to handle emergencies such as poor driving conditions or big rig breakdowns.
- Use the Three-Second Rule: Truck drivers should try to maintain a three-second gap between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This means that the truck driver should reach a certain point on the road three seconds after the car in front of them has passed that same point.
- Always Use Right and Left Turn Indicators: It's important for drivers to always use their turn signals when changing lanes or exiting highways, even if they don't see any other cars around. This is not only required by law, but it also reduces the chances of accidents occurring on the road.
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Find Ways to Prevent Distracted Driving
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving is the primary reason behind truck driver accidents. Any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the road or the steering wheel is considered distracted driving. Distractions can come in various forms, such as eating while driving or gazing at a billboard outside the window. However, the most frequent form of distracted driving is the use of cellphones, specifically texting while driving.
Assuming you or your driver's rigs are equipped with dual-facing cameras, try reviewing footage of an unsafe driving incident. Coach your drivers on ways to correct their unsafe behaviors or look up ways to do so yourself if you're the one operating the big rig. The bottom line is that when your drivers aren't distracted, they drive safer. And when they drive safer, the cost of 18-wheeler insurance in cityname, state can be reduced.
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Ensuring the safety of your drivers begins with the safety of their vehicles. Trucks and tractor-trailers that do not receive regular maintenance, such as oil and brake pad changes, are more likely to experience breakdowns while on the road. Telematics devices provide real-time insight into engine and odometer data, including fault codes.
This information enables your mechanics to create comprehensive preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, history of previous breakdowns, days, and more. Additionally, they can receive immediate notifications for critical fault codes. By implementing routine maintenance and proactive repair schedules, you can ensure that your vehicles are in top condition, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can help reduce the cost of trucker insurance.
Call Now
This approach aims to mitigate the risk of fatal crashes and injuries by proactively identifying and responding to potentially dangerous situations and making informed decisions while driving. By adopting defensive driving techniques, drivers can reduce their likelihood of accidents, thereby minimizing the need for expensive repairs, claim payouts, and increased insurance premiums.
Some of the easiest ways for you or your drivers to practice safe driving include:
- Be Wary of Blind Spots: Operating a reefer or tractor-trailer means driving high off of the ground, which can make visibility limited, especially in blind spots. To check your blind spot, look over your shoulder and out of your windows while changing lanes.
- Be Ready for Emergencies on the Road: It's important for drivers to be ready for unexpected situations when driving, especially during long trips. They should be equipped to handle emergencies such as poor driving conditions or big rig breakdowns.
- Use the Three-Second Rule: Truck drivers should try to maintain a three-second gap between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This means that the truck driver should reach a certain point on the road three seconds after the car in front of them has passed that same point.
- Always Use Right and Left Turn Indicators: It's important for drivers to always use their turn signals when changing lanes or exiting highways, even if they don't see any other cars around. This is not only required by law, but it also reduces the chances of accidents occurring on the road.
Call Now
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving is the primary reason behind truck driver accidents. Any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the road or the steering wheel is considered distracted driving. Distractions can come in various forms, such as eating while driving or gazing at a billboard outside the window. However, the most frequent form of distracted driving is the use of cellphones, specifically texting while driving.
Assuming you or your driver's rigs are equipped with dual-facing cameras, try reviewing footage of an unsafe driving incident. Coach your drivers on ways to correct their unsafe behaviors or look up ways to do so yourself if you're the one operating the big rig. The bottom line is that when your drivers aren't distracted, they drive safer. And when they drive safer, the cost of 18-wheeler insurance in cityname, state can be reduced.
Call Now
FAQs About
Independence Insurance Agency
If you're looking for a commercial trucking insurance agency for your business, chances are you have some questions - and we've got answers. Keep reading to learn more about some of the most commonly asked questions we hear from truckers like you.
Why go with a "jack of all trades" when you can work with specialists who focus exclusively on transportation insurance? We have excellent relationships with major trucking insurance carriers and, as such, can provide the best assistance and reasonable rates.
Typically, companies will look at claims that date back three years or less.
We proudly work with more than 20 carriers to provide our clients with the most advantageous options at competitive prices, catering to the needs of owner-operators and big fleets alike.
Permit filings are typically done by insurance companies on the next business day. Federal (FMCSA) filings are completed online and updated immediately, while some states may take up to three weeks to process.
Independence Insurance Agency: Committed to the Trucking Industry
There's no question about it - you've got to protect your staff, your rig, and your trucking business with insurance. But choosing the right insurance partner isn't always easy. Thankfully, with Independence Insurance Agency by your side, you can rest easy knowing you're covered no matter where the road takes you. If you're in need of a commercial truck insurance agency in Panama City, FL that caters to truckers like you, pick up the phone and contact one of our transportation specialists today. That way, you can get back on the road with confidence tomorrow.
Latest News in Panama City, FL
9-foot great white shark continues Florida Panhandle visit, pings again off Panama City coast
Kim Lucianihttps://www.newsherald.com/story/news/2024/03/15/great-white-shark-florida-ocearch-keji-ping-panhandle-panama-city/72986534007/
A 9-foot 7-inch great white shark named Keji appears to be enjoying the waters off Florida's Panhandle as beaches teem with ...
A 9-foot 7-inch great white shark named Keji appears to be enjoying the waters off Florida's Panhandle as beaches teem with spring breakers.
The shark, tracked by the nonprofit research organization OCEARCH, pinged in the Gulf of Mexico, southeast of Panama City at 9:51 a.m. Friday after pinging nearby three times on Thursday and previously pinging off Panama City on March 3.
A ping means the tag attached to the shark's dorsal fin broke the water's surface long enough to transmit location information to trackers.
Keji arrived in Florida in November. He first pinged southeast of St. Augustine on Nov. 30, then near the Florida Keys on Dec. 13 and off Marco Island's coast Feb. 4 and Feb. 16. He was tracked to the Gulf of Mexico in 2023 and spent the winters of 2021 and 2022 around the state.
Here's what to know about Keji, OCEARCH and white sharks in Florida:
More about great white shark Keji
Keji was tagged by OCEARCH near Ironbound Island, Nova Scotia on Sep. 22, 2021. At the time, the male juvenile white shark measured 9 feet 7 inches and weighed in at 578 pounds.
Great white sharks can grow up to 20 feet long, but most are smaller with adult females averaging 15-16 feet and males 11-13 feet long.
Keji was named after the Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site in the region where he was tagged, according to OCEARCH.
Breton the shark 'artist':1,400-pound great white shark known for its shark 'drawing' pings off Florida coast again
What is OCEARCH?
OCEARCH is a nonprofit organization researching the ocean's giants.
The group studies great white sharks and other keystone species essential for the health of the oceans.
OCEARCH recently finished up its 46th expedition, dubbed Expedition Southeast. It departed from Jacksonville on Nov. 17 and made its final docking in Morehead City, North Carolina on Dec. 15.
During the expeditions, researchers collected previously unattainable data on the animals' migrations, reproductive cycle, genetic status, diet, abundance, and more.
"If we lose the apex predator (sharks) then we lose all our fish and then there are no fish sandwiches for our grandchildren," OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer told the Courier Journal. "That's oversimplified, of course, but the idea is important because many shark species are threatened by overfishing and a demand for shark fins in Asia. Their dwindling numbers jeopardize ocean habitats."
Are great white sharks in Florida waters?
Yes. White sharks swim south when the water gets too cold for them and they lack food sources up north, according to OCEARCH chief scientist Dr. Bob Hueter.
Think of them as the snowbirds of sharks.
Most of them tend to hang out away from the beaches in the continental shelf waters, Hueter said.
What to do if a shark attacks you
National Geographic shares the following tips in case of a shark attack:
Most shark attacks happen in Florida
There were 69 documented unprovoked shark attacks around the globe in 2023. The U.S. led the world with 36 attacks and Florida again was the state with the most bites at 16.
Florida shark attacks by county:
While the U.S. has the most attacks, South Africa has the most shark-related fatalities.
Since 1992, there have been 1,232 shark bites worldwide, according to data from floridapanhandle.com, with white sharks credited as the top biters.
Support local journalism by subscribing to a Florida news organization.
Florida Chief Justice visits FSU Panama City to educate the community
Cortney Evanshttps://www.mypanhandle.com/news/local-news/bay-county/panama-city/florida-chief-justice-visits-fsu-panama-city-to-educate-the-community/
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — Florida State University Panama City set up a fireside chat with Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz to educate future and current law professionals about the judicial system in Tallahassee.The Prelaw Club at FSU PC focuses on giving students opportunities within the legal profession. One way to do that is through events like this.“Dean [Irvin] Clark had the idea we try to get the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to come speak to the college and to the local commun...
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — Florida State University Panama City set up a fireside chat with Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz to educate future and current law professionals about the judicial system in Tallahassee.
The Prelaw Club at FSU PC focuses on giving students opportunities within the legal profession. One way to do that is through events like this.
“Dean [Irvin] Clark had the idea we try to get the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to come speak to the college and to the local community in conjunction with the FSU Panama City Prelaw Club, which had just started this fall semester,” Judge of Compensation Claims John Moneyham said.
Chief Justice Muñiz has a degree from Yale Law School. In 2019, he became the 89th Justice in the state of Florida.
“We’re working for you the people and so the goal of the Supreme Court is to basically make the branch as a whole as good as we possibly can be,” Muñiz said.
“Professionalism was something he stressed that we as attorneys and judges need to be always working to do the utmost and professionalism and treat everyone with respect and dignity,” Moneyham said.
Prelaw Club members said opportunities like this provide them with a better understanding of what it looks like to work in the legal industry.
“It was really insightful of what happens in the Supreme Court and how you can get into it and the things they discuss cause you never really know if you want to get into it or not before it’s too late and it’s nice to know what happens before you can decide anything permanent,” Prelaw Club President Sophia McConnell said.
“What he talked about pertaining to the ethics portion of it, I think that’s obviously a big part of law and the practice, and it’s something you have to take into consideration when deciding if this is something you really want to do,” Prelaw Club Vice President Mikayla Robinson said.
People from the community were able to ask questions before and after the fireside chat. Chief Justice Muñiz engaged with people and spent time answering their questions.
Florida tornadoes: See photos of damage in Panama City, Marianna and along Gulf Coast
USA TODAYhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2024/01/10/florida-tornadoes-damage-photos/72172938007/
...
Severe wind rocked residents across Florida on Tuesday, causing much of the state to monitor for tornadoes throughout the day.
Eight tornadoes were recorded throughout the state Tuesday, according to preliminary data released by the National Weather Service as of Wednesday morning. The first seven tornadoes were reported between 12:17 p.m. and 1:59 p.m. on the Florida panhandle. An additional tornado was reported at 9:23 p.m. further south near St. Petersburg, with a brief EF-0 touchdown.
Officials will continue to assess damage to determine how many tornadoes, as opposed to straight-line winds, touched down in the state.
There have been no reported deaths in Florida yet, but several injuries have been reported. Beyond state lines, the storm system caused at least four deaths in Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina Tuesday.
As Florida schools reopen and the weather eases, residents in affected areas are picking the pieces. Here's what weather damage looked like around the state.
Panama City
Bay County, where Panama City is located, issued a 9 p.m. curfew Tuesday evening. Officials said approximately 100 people were displaced.
Homes, RV park wrecked in Marianna
The storm ripped through Marianna, destroying homes and wrecking an RV park.
Marianna, the "City of Southern Charm," is located just south of the Alabama border. The city, which has barely recovered from the widespread devastation of Hurricane Michael in 2018, was hit hard by Tuesday's storms.
More storm damage around the state
Further west on the panhandle, a couple escaped their Escambia County home after a tree fell on it.
Further south on the Gulf Coast near where the NWS confirmed a EF-0 tornado, winds and thunderstorms prompted street flooding.
Contributing: Nathan Cobb, Panama City News Herald; Dinah Pulver, USA TODAY
Suspected tornadoes in Florida Panhandle rip apart marina, destroy homes during severe weather
Emilee Speckhttps://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/multiple-tornadoes-confirmed-in-florida-panhandle-during-severe-weather
PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Suspected tornadoes ripped through multiple communities in the Florida Panhandle early Tuesday during severe thunderstorms, causing damage to homes and businesses.An active weather system is ...
PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Suspected tornadoes ripped through multiple communities in the Florida Panhandle early Tuesday during severe thunderstorms, causing damage to homes and businesses.
An active weather system is causing chaos across the U.S. from blizzard conditions in the Plains and Midwest to strong winds in the Northeast to severe weather in the South.
Strong thunderstorms have slammed into the Southeast, with more than 30 Tornado Warnings issued across the South since the severe weather event began unfolding late Monday.
Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie told FOX Weather about 15 Tornado Warnings were issued across the Florida Panhandle region on Tuesday morning.
Several injured in Bay County after ‘potentially catastrophic damage’
Multiple Doppler radar-confirmed tornadoes caused damage in Walton and Bay counties, including in Panama City Beach. Photos and video show extensive damage to a street in Panama City Beach, with a home tilted about 15 degrees to one side.
(Mike's Weather Page / X / FOX Weather)
Guthrie said there is "potentially catastrophic damage" in Bay County.
A Florida Panhandle marina was destroyed near Panama City Beach, and many boats were flipped during the storm.
Photos the Bay County Sheriff's Office shared show the crumpled business in the dark early Tuesday morning.
(Bay County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
According to Guthrie, another condominium building in Bay County was also leveled by a twister. Florida emergency managers are still receiving calls about damage early Tuesday.
Guthrie confirmed five significant injuries in Bay County but no deaths as of Tuesday afternoon. Search and rescue efforts are still underway.
"We know that we got at least one condo, older-style condo, that's been completely ripped off of the roof from the second floor," Guthrie said.
(Bay County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
Additionally, seven people were injured in an RV campground in Jackson County, according to Jackson County Public Information Officer Dylan Bass. He added that authorities did rescue an individual who was trapped in their home. This person sustained minor injuries.
No fatalities occurred in the campground, Bass noted.
(@jaytrumbull / X / FOX Weather)
Images of the tornado
When a tornado was spotted near Panama City around 7 a.m. local time, an active Tornado Warning was underway in Bay, Walton and Washington counties.
A weather watcher spotted the tornado below on Tuesday, crossing Interstate 10 near Marianna, Florida.
Watch: Possible tornado crosses Florida highway
Video recorded in Marianna, Florida, shows what appears to be a possible tornado crossing Interstate 10 early Tuesday morning.
The suspected long-track tornado caused catastrophic damage at a Marianna trailer park before the sun rose on Tuesday.
Aerial video from Live Storm Media shows several trailers flipped or completely shredded by the powerful winds. Those winds ripped down power lines across the Florida Panhandle area, causing power outages.
As the fast-moving squall line continued east, severe weather moved into Florida's Big Bend, South Georgia and North Florida late Tuesday morning.
Gusty winds and heavy rain pushed into Florida's capital of Tallahassee, causing power outages to increase.
The city shared a video of strong wind gusts outside Tallahassee City Hall.
How Florida is responding to the disaster
Florida officials say the severe weather forecast and prepared before the storms hit.
Due to the severe weather forecast, officials with the Florida Department of Education decided to close schools in more than 35 school districts throughout the state on Tuesday. More than a dozen colleges and universities in the Panhandle and North Florida closed Tuesday.
On Monday night, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis activated the Florida National Guard to prepare to respond to any storm damage. On Tuesday, he issued an executive order to include 49 counties under a state of emergency from the severe weather impacting the Sunshine State.
(Florida Division of Emergency Management / FOX Weather)
During the severe weather, the Escambia Bay Bridge in Pensacola was temporarily closed Tuesday morning. Multiple other bridges were closed on Tuesday, and other closures are possible.
Guthrie said Florida is home to many high bridges over waterways that the Florida Department of Transportation will close during high-wind events when gusts are over 45 mph.
The severe weather threat is not over in Florida. Throughout Tuesday, weather alerts for high winds and tornadoes are in effect for North and Central Florida.
Several lift stations will move inland to improve wastewater flow
Courtney Fegleyhttps://www.mypanhandle.com/news/local-news/bay-county/several-lift-stations-will-move-inland-to-improve-wastewater-flow/
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — Lift Station 45 located on Beach Drive is one of many stations being moved further inland.Panama City City Manager Jonathan Hayes said the relocation will help move wastewater more efficiently in the area and protect St. Andrews Bay. Panama City residents hold rally against multi-use pathway ...
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — Lift Station 45 located on Beach Drive is one of many stations being moved further inland.
Panama City City Manager Jonathan Hayes said the relocation will help move wastewater more efficiently in the area and protect St. Andrews Bay.
“Whenever you have a station go down, a power outage, or any type of backup in the system or, God forbid, any type of vandalism, it’s right there on the bay. That’s a concern to have a system go down,” Hayes said.
Hayes said the lift station’s relocation has nothing to do with the Beach Drive sidewalk project.
“This is not directly related to the Beach Drive multi-use sidewalk that is underway with a sidewalk about 1.6 miles from Frankfort Avenue East to Sixth Street, just past Johnson Bayou, leading into Panama City,” Hayes said.
Right now city officials plan to move the lift station a few blocks north to the Garden Club Area. Workers will have to lay new pipes to route the wastewater to the Millville or St. Andrews treatment plants.
“If you drive around these neighborhoods, Balboa and Skyland and Wood and Beach Drive and Buena Vista and examine that whole area, you’ll see lots of markings on the road as we work through putting out the very best place for those pipes to go in order to benefit the flow and in order to make sure that we kind of got a really good plan,” Hayes said.
Hayes said construction shouldn’t affect residents’ properties.
“What we’d call the water main or the sewer main, those are almost always in either the right away or in the road. Not on people’s private property.”
Hayes said the final result will benefit the community.
“The result will be so much better for everybody because they’ll have more dependable water lines, dependable sewer lines, better functioning stormwater management systems as well as brand new roads and sidewalks.”
The city will be moving about 12 lift stations. The cost of the entire project will be about $25 million. The money is coming from a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant.
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