In October, the coastal Panhandle town of Mexico Beach was ravaged by Hurricane Michael. The area is still recovering from the storm but opened a temporary welcome center on Dec. 4, located next to the original structure, which was damaged by the storm.
"This stretch of sand is home or a home-away-from-home to so many, and our temporary Welcome Center now provides everyone with a location to stop by, say 'hello' and feel the resiliency of Mexico Beach," Mexico Beach Community Development Council president Kimberly Shoaf said in a statement.
At the moment, the rebuilding efforts are underway, and a massive beach cleanup is taking place to clear the dunes of debris. The canal was also heavily damaged. Construction and cleaning crews are working to salvage the structures that did not sustain irreparable damage.
There are currently three restaurants in operation: Caribbean Coffee, Mango Marley's and Rustic Sands Grill, providing breakfast and lunch three days per week, as well as hosting live music on Fridays and Saturdays for residents and disaster-relief workers.