Out of Tragedy lies Hope

The November 15, fire that destroyed one of Apalachicola’s historic structures was not only a tragic loss to the owners and staff of Apalachicola State Bank, but also to the entire Apalachicola community. It is my sincere prayer, that in the face of this tragedy, that we look toward God for peace and embrace each other for the strength that is needed for tomorrow.

To our local and neighboring fire departments and to all who assisted, thank you, you all preformed a magnificent, unselfish service toward humanity. While I’m thankful that there were no human fatalities, I am hopeful that out of this tragedy will develop a renewed sense of urgency, whereby we join as a community to resolve the issues surrounding fire protection in our city.

The lessons learned from this event will surely help shape future policies and expenditures that govern fire services throughout the City of Apalachicola.

We are a resilient people; throughout my 49-years as a native Apalachicolian, I have witnessed the resolve of this community to bounce back from tornados, hurricanes, red tide, and a host of other foreseen and unforeseen disasters, all with a renewed sense of community.

Because of this, I truly believe that our today is a better day than our yesterday, and that all of our tomorrows will be even better.