This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45818960
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Michael: Record-breaking 'hell' storm mauls US | Hurricane Michael: Record-breaking 'hell' storm mauls US |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The most powerful hurricane ever to hit north-west Florida has flooded beach towns, submerging homes and snapping trees like twigs. | The most powerful hurricane ever to hit north-west Florida has flooded beach towns, submerging homes and snapping trees like twigs. |
| Hurricane Michael - now a category three storm with 125mph (200km/h) winds - made landfall on Wednesday afternoon in the state's Panhandle region. | Hurricane Michael - now a category three storm with 125mph (200km/h) winds - made landfall on Wednesday afternoon in the state's Panhandle region. |
| It is so powerful that it remained a hurricane as it moved overland to bear down on Alabama and Georgia. | It is so powerful that it remained a hurricane as it moved overland to bear down on Alabama and Georgia. |
| Michael's rapid intensification caught many by surprise. | Michael's rapid intensification caught many by surprise. |
| Unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico turbo-charged the storm from a tropical depression on Sunday. | Unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico turbo-charged the storm from a tropical depression on Sunday. |
| It was a category two hurricane by Tuesday, and a borderline category five on Wednesday morning, packing 155mph winds. | It was a category two hurricane by Tuesday, and a borderline category five on Wednesday morning, packing 155mph winds. |
| Florida Governor Rick Scott warned of "unimaginable devastation", saying it would be the worst storm in 100 years. | Florida Governor Rick Scott warned of "unimaginable devastation", saying it would be the worst storm in 100 years. |
| Michael reportedly killed at least 13 people in Central America: six in Honduras, four in Nicaragua and three in El Salvador. | Michael reportedly killed at least 13 people in Central America: six in Honduras, four in Nicaragua and three in El Salvador. |
| The only reported death so far in the US is a man killed when a tree landed on his house in Florida, according to ABC News. | The only reported death so far in the US is a man killed when a tree landed on his house in Florida, according to ABC News. |
| More than 370,000 people in that state were ordered to evacuate, but officials reckon many ignored the warning. | More than 370,000 people in that state were ordered to evacuate, but officials reckon many ignored the warning. |
| The coastal city of Apalachicola reported a storm surge of nearly 8ft (2.5m). | The coastal city of Apalachicola reported a storm surge of nearly 8ft (2.5m). |
| "We are catching some hell," Timothy Thomas, who rode out the storm with his wife in their home in Panama City Beach, Florida, told the Associated Press news agency. | "We are catching some hell," Timothy Thomas, who rode out the storm with his wife in their home in Panama City Beach, Florida, told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Michael has already knocked out power to a quarter of a million homes and businesses, as power lines were smashed by falling trees. | Michael has already knocked out power to a quarter of a million homes and businesses, as power lines were smashed by falling trees. |
| "We are in new territory," Miami-based National Hurricane Center meteorologist Dennis Feltgen wrote on Facebook. | "We are in new territory," Miami-based 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." | "The historical record, going back to 1851, finds no Category 4 hurricane ever hitting the Florida panhandle." |
| Reuters news agency reports that Michael is the third-most powerful storm ever to make landfall in the mainland US, after Hurricane Camille in Mississippi in 1969 and the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 in Florida. | Reuters news agency reports that Michael is the third-most powerful storm ever to make landfall in the mainland US, after Hurricane Camille in Mississippi in 1969 and the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 in Florida. |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Brock Long said at the White House that he was especially concerned about buildings constructed before 2001, and not able to withstand such high winds. | |
| "We just hope those structures can hold up," President Donald Trump responded. "And if not, that they're not in those structures." | |
| States of emergency have been declared in all or parts of Florida, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. | States of emergency have been declared in all or parts of Florida, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. |
| The hurricane made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, at around 14:00 (18:00 GMT) on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. | The hurricane made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, at around 14:00 (18:00 GMT) on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. |
| Forecasters warned parts of Florida could experience storm surges of up to 14ft (4m) and flash floods from up to 12in (30cm) of rain. | |
| Schools and state offices in the area are to remain shut this week. | Schools and state offices in the area are to remain shut this week. |
| Florida has activated 3,500 National Guard troops. | Florida has activated 3,500 National Guard troops. |
| More than 300 miles of coastline were under threat, the National Weather Service said. | More than 300 miles of coastline were under threat, the National Weather Service said. |
| Michael was forecast to move across south-eastern Alabama and south-western Georgia on Wednesday night. | Michael was forecast to move across south-eastern Alabama and south-western Georgia on Wednesday night. |
| It is still expected to be packing tropical storm-force winds when it reaches the Carolinas, which are already reeling from last month's Hurricane Florence. | It is still expected to be packing tropical storm-force winds when it reaches the Carolinas, which are already reeling from last month's Hurricane Florence. |
| Are you in the affected region? What preparations have you made? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the affected region? What preparations have you made? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |