Hurricane Michael turns
deadly and moves inland
to Georgia
Jay Reeves, Brendan FarringtonAssociated Press
Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida Panhandle with terrifying winds of 155 mph
Wednesday, killing at least one person, splintering homes and submerging neighborhoods
before continuing its destructive march inland across the Southeast.
Wednesday, killing at least one person, splintering homes and submerging neighborhoods
before continuing its destructive march inland across the Southeast.
It was the most powerful hurricane to hit the continental U.S. in nearly 50 years and at least
one death was reported during its passage.
one death was reported during its passage.
Supercharged by abnormally warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the Category 4 storm
crashed ashore in the early afternoon near Mexico Beach, a tourist town about midway
along the Panhandle, a 200-mile stretch of white-sand beach resorts, fishing towns and
military bases. After it ravaged the Panhandle, Michael entered south Georgia as a
Category 3 hurricane — the most powerful in recorded history for that part of the
neighboring state.
crashed ashore in the early afternoon near Mexico Beach, a tourist town about midway
along the Panhandle, a 200-mile stretch of white-sand beach resorts, fishing towns and
military bases. After it ravaged the Panhandle, Michael entered south Georgia as a
Category 3 hurricane — the most powerful in recorded history for that part of the
neighboring state.
It later weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, and there were reports it spawned possible
tornadoes in central Georgia.
tornadoes in central Georgia.
In north Florida, Michael battered the shoreline with sideways rain, powerful gusts and
crashing waves, swamping streets and docks, flattening trees, stripped away leaves,
shredding awnings and peeling away shingles. It also set off transformer explosions and
knocked out power to more than 388,000 homes and businesses.
crashing waves, swamping streets and docks, flattening trees, stripped away leaves,
shredding awnings and peeling away shingles. It also set off transformer explosions and
knocked out power to more than 388,000 homes and businesses.
A Panhandle man was killed by a tree toppling on a home, Gadsden County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Anglie Hightower said. She said authorities got a call Wednesday evening
that the man was trapped but rescue crews were hampered by downed trees and debris
blocking roadways. Authorities haven't yet confirmed the man's name.
Damage in Panama City was extensive, with
broken and uprooted trees and power lines
down nearly everywhere. Roofs were peeled
off and homes split open by fallen trees.
Twisted street signs lay on the ground.
Residents emerged in the early evening to
assess damage when rains stopped, though
skies were still overcast and windy.
broken and uprooted trees and power lines
down nearly everywhere. Roofs were peeled
off and homes split open by fallen trees.
Twisted street signs lay on the ground.
Residents emerged in the early evening to
assess damage when rains stopped, though
skies were still overcast and windy.
Vance Beu, 29, was satying with his mother at her apartment, Spring Gate Apartments, a
small complex of single-story wood frame apartment buildings. A pine tree punched a hole
in their roof and he said the roar of the storm sounded like a jet engine as the winds
accelerated. Their ears even popped as the barometric pressure dropped.
small complex of single-story wood frame apartment buildings. A pine tree punched a hole
in their roof and he said the roar of the storm sounded like a jet engine as the winds
accelerated. Their ears even popped as the barometric pressure dropped.
“It was terrifying, honestly. There was a lot of noise. We thought the windows were going to
break at any time. We had the inside windows kind of barricaded in with mattresses,” Beu
said.
break at any time. We had the inside windows kind of barricaded in with mattresses,” Beu
said.
Kaylee O'Brien was crying as she sorted through the remains of the apartment she shared
with three roommates at Whispering Pines apartments, where the smell of broken pine trees
was thick in the air. Four pine trees had crashed through the roof of her apartment, nearly
hitting two people. She was missing her 1-year-old Siamese cat, Molly.
with three roommates at Whispering Pines apartments, where the smell of broken pine trees
was thick in the air. Four pine trees had crashed through the roof of her apartment, nearly
hitting two people. She was missing her 1-year-old Siamese cat, Molly.
“We haven't seen her since the tree hit the den. She's my baby,” O'Brien said, her face wet
with tears.
with tears.
In Apalachicola, Sally Crown rode out the storm in her house. The worst damage — she
thought — was in her yard. Multiple trees were down. But after the storm passed, she drove
to check on the cafe she manages and saw the scope of the destruction.
thought — was in her yard. Multiple trees were down. But after the storm passed, she drove
to check on the cafe she manages and saw the scope of the destruction.
“It's absolutely horrendous. Catastrophic,” Crown said. “There's flooding. Boats on the
highway. A house on the highway. Houses that have been there forever are just shattered.”
highway. A house on the highway. Houses that have been there forever are just shattered.”
Gov. Rick Scott announced soon after the powerful eye had swept inland that “aggressive”
search and rescue efforts were just beginning and urged people to stay off debris-littered
roads.
search and rescue efforts were just beginning and urged people to stay off debris-littered
roads.
“We are in new territory,” National Hurricane Center Meteorologist Dennis Feltgen
wrote on Facebook. “The historical record, going back to 1851, finds no
Category 4 hurricane ever hitting the Florida Panhandle.”
wrote on Facebook. “The historical record, going back to 1851, finds no
Category 4 hurricane ever hitting the Florida Panhandle.”
Associated Press writers Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg; Terry Spencer in Fort
Lauderdale; Freida Frisaro in Miami; Brendan Farrington in St. Marks; Russ Bynum
in Keaton Beach; Jonathan Drew in Raleigh, N.C.; and Seth Borenstein in Kensington,
Md., contributed to this story.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/fl-ne-hurricane-michael-florida-20181009-story.htmlLauderdale; Freida Frisaro in Miami; Brendan Farrington in St. Marks; Russ Bynum
in Keaton Beach; Jonathan Drew in Raleigh, N.C.; and Seth Borenstein in Kensington,
Md., contributed to this story.
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