PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — When the Governor Stone was found after Hurricane Michael, it had been demasted and capsized near its slip in the St. Andrews Marina.
Years later the dedicated Friends of the Governor Stone have a reason to celebrate.
They recently found out that FEMA has released $1.5 million in reimbursement grants. Now, the rebuilding of Governor Stone can continue.
They still have a lot of work to do. They say if everything goes well it will take around 18 months to finish the rebuild, hoping to put the finishing touches on the vessel by December 2025.
Everything from the wood decking, the mast, and the keel will need to be replaced.
We spoke with Friends of the Governor Stone President Colleen Reilly about the rebuild plans for Governor Stone and why these funds are so important.
“Everything you can think of that was on the Governor Stone before Hurricane Michael hit. We’re going to have to either purchase or have specially made because some things that are older, dating back to how the boat was built back in 1877,” Reilly said. “You can’t just go out to the store, go to Walmart, and purchase those things, they need to be handcrafted.”
To find out more information on Governor Stone or would like to donate or volunteer with its rebuild, click here.
