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| 'People need to start leaving now': Hurricane Michael heads for Florida | 'People need to start leaving now': Hurricane Michael heads for Florida |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hurricane Michael intensified over warm Gulf of Mexico waters on Tuesday, amid fears it would swiftly become a major hurricane before making landfall on Wednesday along Florida’s Panhandle. Mandatory evacuations were issued as beach dwellers rushed to board up homes ahead of what could be a devastating hit. | Hurricane Michael intensified over warm Gulf of Mexico waters on Tuesday, amid fears it would swiftly become a major hurricane before making landfall on Wednesday along Florida’s Panhandle. Mandatory evacuations were issued as beach dwellers rushed to board up homes ahead of what could be a devastating hit. |
| The storm strengthened into a category 2 hurricane with top wind speeds of 100mph. As of 8am, it was moving north-north-westward over the southern Gulf of Mexico at about 12mph. The NHC in Miami said the hurricane was 395 miles (635km) south of Panama City and 365 miles south of Apalachicola. | |
| A hurricane hunter plane that bounced into the swirling eye off the western tip of Cuba late on Monday found wind speeds rising, supporting forecasts that the storm could reach major hurricane status on Tuesday night with winds topping 111mph (179km/h), capable of causing devastating damage. | A hurricane hunter plane that bounced into the swirling eye off the western tip of Cuba late on Monday found wind speeds rising, supporting forecasts that the storm could reach major hurricane status on Tuesday night with winds topping 111mph (179km/h), capable of causing devastating damage. |
| Mandatory evacuation orders went into effect Tuesday morning for about 120,000 people in Panama City Beach and across other low-lying parts of the coast as Hurricane Michael approaches. | Mandatory evacuation orders went into effect Tuesday morning for about 120,000 people in Panama City Beach and across other low-lying parts of the coast as Hurricane Michael approaches. |
| Parts of Florida’s marshy, lightly populated Big Bend area could see up to 12ft (3.7 meters) of storm surge, while Michael also could dump up to a foot (30cm) of rain over some Panhandle communities as it moves inland, forecasters said. | Parts of Florida’s marshy, lightly populated Big Bend area could see up to 12ft (3.7 meters) of storm surge, while Michael also could dump up to a foot (30cm) of rain over some Panhandle communities as it moves inland, forecasters said. |
| “People need to start leaving now,” Sheriff Tommy Ford told an emergency meeting on Monday night. He said people will “not be dragged out of their homes”, but anyone who stays behind will be on their own once the storm hits. | “People need to start leaving now,” Sheriff Tommy Ford told an emergency meeting on Monday night. He said people will “not be dragged out of their homes”, but anyone who stays behind will be on their own once the storm hits. |
| By 5am on Tuesday, Michael’s top sustained winds were up to 90mph (144km/h), centered about 390 miles (627km) south of Apalachicola and 420 miles south of Panama City. Hurricane-force winds extended outward for 35 miles from the core. | By 5am on Tuesday, Michael’s top sustained winds were up to 90mph (144km/h), centered about 390 miles (627km) south of Apalachicola and 420 miles south of Panama City. Hurricane-force winds extended outward for 35 miles from the core. |
| Forecasters warned that Michael, now a category 1 hurricane, could ultimately dump a foot of rain in western Cuba, triggering flash floods and mudslides in mountain areas. | Forecasters warned that Michael, now a category 1 hurricane, could ultimately dump a foot of rain in western Cuba, triggering flash floods and mudslides in mountain areas. |
| Disaster agencies in El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua reported 13 deaths as roofs collapsed and residents were carried away by swollen rivers. Six people died in Honduras, four in Nicaragua and three in El Salvador. Authorities were also searching for a boy swept away by a river in Guatemala. Most of the rain was blamed on a low-pressure system off the Pacific coast, but Hurricane Michael in the Caribbean could have also contributed. | Disaster agencies in El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua reported 13 deaths as roofs collapsed and residents were carried away by swollen rivers. Six people died in Honduras, four in Nicaragua and three in El Salvador. Authorities were also searching for a boy swept away by a river in Guatemala. Most of the rain was blamed on a low-pressure system off the Pacific coast, but Hurricane Michael in the Caribbean could have also contributed. |
| Florida’s governor, Rick Scott, called Michael a “monstrous hurricane” with a devastating potential from high winds, storm surge and heavy rains. He declared a state of emergency for 35 Florida counties, from the Panhandle to Tampa Bay, activated hundreds of Florida national guard members and waived tolls to encourage evacuations. | Florida’s governor, Rick Scott, called Michael a “monstrous hurricane” with a devastating potential from high winds, storm surge and heavy rains. He declared a state of emergency for 35 Florida counties, from the Panhandle to Tampa Bay, activated hundreds of Florida national guard members and waived tolls to encourage evacuations. |
| He also warned caregivers at north Florida hospitals and nursing homes to do all possible to assure the safety of the elderly and infirm. Following Hurricane Irma last year, 14 people died when a south Florida nursing home lost power and air conditioning. | He also warned caregivers at north Florida hospitals and nursing homes to do all possible to assure the safety of the elderly and infirm. Following Hurricane Irma last year, 14 people died when a south Florida nursing home lost power and air conditioning. |
| “If you’re responsible for a patient, you’re responsible for the patient. Take care of them,” he said. | “If you’re responsible for a patient, you’re responsible for the patient. Take care of them,” he said. |
| Sheriff David Morgan of Escambia county bluntly advised residents choosing to ride it out that first-responders would not be able to reach them while Michael smashes into the coast. | Sheriff David Morgan of Escambia county bluntly advised residents choosing to ride it out that first-responders would not be able to reach them while Michael smashes into the coast. |
| “If you decide to stay in your home and a tree falls on your house or the storm surge catches you and you’re now calling for help, there’s no one that can respond to help you,” Morgan said. | “If you decide to stay in your home and a tree falls on your house or the storm surge catches you and you’re now calling for help, there’s no one that can respond to help you,” Morgan said. |
| In the small Panhandle city of Apalachicola, Mayor Van Johnson Sr said the 2,300 residents were frantically preparing for what could be a strike unlike any seen there in decades. Many filled sandbags and boarded up homes and lined up to buy gas and groceries before leaving town. | In the small Panhandle city of Apalachicola, Mayor Van Johnson Sr said the 2,300 residents were frantically preparing for what could be a strike unlike any seen there in decades. Many filled sandbags and boarded up homes and lined up to buy gas and groceries before leaving town. |
| “We’re looking at a significant storm with significant impact, possibly greater than I’ve seen in my 59 years of life,” Johnson said of his city on the shore of Apalachicola Bay, which where about 90% of Florida’s oysters are harvested. | “We’re looking at a significant storm with significant impact, possibly greater than I’ve seen in my 59 years of life,” Johnson said of his city on the shore of Apalachicola Bay, which where about 90% of Florida’s oysters are harvested. |
| No shelters will be open in Wakulla county, the sheriff’s office warned on Facebook, because they are rated safe only for hurricanes with top sustained winds below 111mph. With Michael’s winds projected to be even stronger, residents were urged to evacuate inland. | |
| “This storm has the potential to be a historic storm, please take heed,” the sheriff’s office said in the post. | “This storm has the potential to be a historic storm, please take heed,” the sheriff’s office said in the post. |
| The entire neighboring state of Alabama is under an emergency declaration. Governor Kay Ivey said she feared widespread power outages and other problems would follow. Forecasters warned spinoff tornadoes would also be a threat. | The entire neighboring state of Alabama is under an emergency declaration. Governor Kay Ivey said she feared widespread power outages and other problems would follow. Forecasters warned spinoff tornadoes would also be a threat. |
| With the storm next entering the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico, which has warm water and favorable atmospheric conditions, “there is a real possibility that Michael will strengthen to a major hurricane before landfall,” Robbie Berg, a hurricane specialist at the Miami-based storm forecasting hub, wrote in an advisory. | With the storm next entering the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico, which has warm water and favorable atmospheric conditions, “there is a real possibility that Michael will strengthen to a major hurricane before landfall,” Robbie Berg, a hurricane specialist at the Miami-based storm forecasting hub, wrote in an advisory. |
| A large mound of sand in Tallahassee was whittled down to a small pile within hours on Monday as residents filled sandbags against potential flooding. | A large mound of sand in Tallahassee was whittled down to a small pile within hours on Monday as residents filled sandbags against potential flooding. |
| Mayor Andrew Gillum, Florida’s Democratic nominee for governor, filled sandbags with residents and urged residents of the state capital city to finish emergency preparations quickly. Local authorities fear power outages and major tree damage from Michael. | Mayor Andrew Gillum, Florida’s Democratic nominee for governor, filled sandbags with residents and urged residents of the state capital city to finish emergency preparations quickly. Local authorities fear power outages and major tree damage from Michael. |
| “Today it is about life and safety,” Gillum said. “There’s nothing between us and this storm but warm water’ and I think that’s what terrifies us about the potential impacts.” | “Today it is about life and safety,” Gillum said. “There’s nothing between us and this storm but warm water’ and I think that’s what terrifies us about the potential impacts.” |
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