For the 19th time, Panama City Commissioners have extended the state of emergency in Bay County, nearly five months after Hurricane Michael devastated the region. The declaration has been extended week by week since the storm and gives local law enforcement the ability to be more proactive with certain crimes such as contractors working without a license or illegal dumping. The State’s declared state of emergency was extended by Governor Ron DeSantis on February 1st for another 60 days because he said impacts from Hurricane Michael continue to pose health and safety risks to citizens in the area.