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| Storm Michael: Monster storm mauls US south-east | Storm Michael: Monster storm mauls US south-east |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| One of the strongest storms in recorded history to hit the US has battered north-west Florida, flooding homes, washing out beaches and snapping trees. | One of the strongest storms in recorded history to hit the US has battered north-west Florida, flooding homes, washing out beaches and snapping trees. |
| Rescue services are beginning to assess the full impact of Hurricane Michael, which made landfall on Wednesday afternoon as a category four storm with 155mph (250km/h) winds. | Rescue services are beginning to assess the full impact of Hurricane Michael, which made landfall on Wednesday afternoon as a category four storm with 155mph (250km/h) winds. |
| At least six people have been killed, most of them in Florida. | |
| Having weakened to a tropical storm, Michael has been hitting the Carolinas. | |
| Storm-surge warnings are still in place, the US National Hurricane Center says, and residents across the southern US have been warned of the continuing danger from downed powerlines, flash floods and landslides. | Storm-surge warnings are still in place, the US National Hurricane Center says, and residents across the southern US have been warned of the continuing danger from downed powerlines, flash floods and landslides. |
| There are fears for people who ignored evacuation warnings in some of the areas now flooded. | There are fears for people who ignored evacuation warnings in some of the areas now flooded. |
| Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses were left without electricity in Florida, Alabama and Georgia. | Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses were left without electricity in Florida, Alabama and Georgia. |
| How powerful was Michael when it landed? | How powerful was Michael when it landed? |
| Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, at around 14:00 (18:00 GMT) on Wednesday. | Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, at around 14:00 (18:00 GMT) on Wednesday. |
| It ranks among the most powerful hurricanes to hit the US in terms of wind speed and barometric pressure, comparable to Hurricane Andrew in 1992. | It ranks among the most powerful hurricanes to hit the US in terms of wind speed and barometric pressure, comparable to Hurricane Andrew in 1992. |
| Michael was so strong as it swept into Florida that it remained a hurricane for hours as it moved further inland, before being downgraded to a tropical storm. | Michael was so strong as it swept into Florida that it remained a hurricane for hours as it moved further inland, before being downgraded to a tropical storm. |
| Its rapid intensification caught many by surprise, although the storm later weakened. | Its rapid intensification caught many by surprise, although the storm later weakened. |
| 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. |
| On Tuesday it was still a category two hurricane but by Wednesday morning it had reached borderline category five, the highest level. | On Tuesday it was still a category two hurricane but by Wednesday morning it had reached borderline category five, the highest level. |
| Who are the victims? | Who are the victims? |
| Florida officials say at least four people died as a result of the storm in Gadsden County. | |
| In Seminole County, Georgia, a metal car-shelter lifted by a gust of wind hit a mobile home, killing a girl of 11. | In Seminole County, Georgia, a metal car-shelter lifted by a gust of wind hit a mobile home, killing a girl of 11. |
| And a man died when a tree fell on his car near Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday. | |
| Michael earlier reportedly killed at least 13 people as it passed through Central America: six in Honduras, four in Nicaragua and three in El Salvador. | Michael earlier reportedly killed at least 13 people as it passed through Central America: six in Honduras, four in Nicaragua and three in El Salvador. |
| How badly was Florida hit? | How badly was Florida hit? |
| The storm has knocked out power to more than 900,000 homes and businesses. | The storm has knocked out power to more than 900,000 homes and businesses. |
| More than 370,000 people in Florida were ordered to evacuate but officials believe many ignored the warning. | More than 370,000 people in Florida were ordered to evacuate but officials believe 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). |
| "There are so many downed power lines and trees that it's almost impossible to get through the city," local mayor Van Johnson was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. | "There are so many downed power lines and trees that it's almost impossible to get through the city," local mayor Van Johnson was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. |
| Florida Governor Rick Scott said the US Coast Guard had carried out 10 missions overnight, saving at least 27 people. | Florida Governor Rick Scott said the US Coast Guard had carried out 10 missions overnight, saving at least 27 people. |
| "So many lives have been changed forever," he told reporters. "So many families have lost everything. This hurricane was an absolute monster." | "So many lives have been changed forever," he told reporters. "So many families have lost everything. This hurricane was an absolute monster." |
| Images from Mexico Beach show many homes submerged in water, and there was severe damage to buildings in the state's Panama City area. | Images from Mexico Beach show many homes submerged in water, and there was severe damage to buildings in the state's Panama City area. |
| A journalist with the Tampa Bay Times said neighbourhoods in that city "looked like a child's playroom after a massive tantrum". | A journalist with the Tampa Bay Times said neighbourhoods in that city "looked like a child's playroom after a massive tantrum". |
| What happens next? | What happens next? |
| As of early Thursday morning local time, the storm winds had dropped to 60mph, the NHC said. | As of early Thursday morning local time, the storm winds had dropped to 60mph, the NHC said. |
| It warned that communities in north-west Florida and North Carolina faced the threat of life-threatening flooding as rising water moved inland from the coast. | It warned that communities in north-west Florida and North Carolina faced the threat of life-threatening flooding as rising water moved inland from the coast. |
| The Carolinas are still recovering from the floods of Hurricane Florence. | The Carolinas are still recovering from the floods of Hurricane Florence. |
| 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. |
| 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 |