Suffering in Panama City

Located along the Florida panhandle, the members of St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club in Panama City are suffering. Here’s an update from Club Commodore Will Cramer:

Our beloved clubhouse was destroyed by fire this morning, November 12. Fortunately, the building was empty and no one was hurt. A passerby called 911 about 3:30am, and firefighters from the City of Panama City have been working tirelessly to put the fire out since then.

The Fire Marshal has not been able to determine a cause yet, but it started on the pool side and worked east. The firefighters made a special effort to keep the oak tree on the back deck from burning, and we will have an arborist inspect it as soon as practical.

We have good insurance, and we’ve already filed a claim. The Board will be meeting this week to begin the rebuilding process as well as to find ways to keep the Club functioning in some form in the meantime. We have assured our staff that they will be paid through the end of the year, at the least.

Though fire has destroyed our facility, it has not destroyed our Club. We are all sad for the loss of the place where we’ve created so many good memories, but we have an opportunity to make a lot of the things we’ve only been able to wish for become reality. Today we mourn, tomorrow we will go to work.