Panama City Beach was thrust into an icy ordeal today as snow, an anomaly in Florida, blanketed the area. The local Sheriff issued a clear request: Please Stay Home. However, the locals of Panama City Beach had other plans, leading to a small mess at the Hathaway Bridge.
The Sheriff’s plea didn’t stop people from trying. With snow covering the roads, the Bay County Sheriff was quick to warn residents through social media and local news with the message, “Please Stay Home. The intention was clear: prevent accidents, reduce strain on emergency services, and keep the community safe from winter’s rare and slippery grip.
Maybe a more direct message could have helped. Something like:
Stay safe, everyone! If you don’t have experience driving in snow, stay off the roads. Regardless, please stay off the Hathaway Bridge until the ice has cleared and do the police a favor.
Panama City Beach hasn’t experienced snow since 2018, and I certainly don’t recall us ever getting 5 inches before.
So, take the time to enjoy this extraordinary scene of snow at the beach.