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| Hurricane Michael: deadly storm hits Carolinas after 'obliterating' Florida coast – live updates | Hurricane Michael: deadly storm hits Carolinas after 'obliterating' Florida coast – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The two major hospitals in Panama City are evacuating their patients and shutting down due to heavy damage from Hurricane Michael, the Associated Press reported. | |
| Bay Medical Sacred Heart is transferring about 200 patients to other hospitals in Pensacola and Jacksonville, Florida, and Mobile, Alabama. Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center is also evacuating all patients. | |
| Sacred Heart’s statement says the transfers began at 3 a.m. Thursday with 39 critical care patients and would take about 48 hours to complete. The hospital sustained damage including blown out windows, a roof collapse in a maintenance and storage building, and a cracked wall. No patients were injured. | |
| Here’s an update from the Guardian’s Oliver Milman: | |
| The ferocity of Hurricane Michael has caught even some storm observers a little by surprise. Within two days, Michael had turned from a tropical storm into a category four hurricane that was the strongest to hit the continental US since 1992. | |
| Hurricanes that intensify quickly are doing so far faster and stronger than they were 30 years ago, scientists have found. A sharp speed-up was present in each of the trio of major storms – Harvey, Irma and Maria – that caused widespread devastation in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico last year. | |
| A recent study by US researchers found that these sort of storms now feature average wind speeds that increase around 13mph more in a 24-hour period than they did 30 years ago. | |
| Much of this is down to a natural climate cycle known as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, which warms waters in the Atlantic. But as ocean waters worldwide heat up due to climate change, man-made influence is expected to play a larger and larger role. | |
| Experts now measure hurricanes by their wind speeds in categories 1 through 5, but meteorologists have begun to wonder about the potential for a category 6 hurricane as storms grow ever more powerful. | |
| Hurricane Michael was an “unbelievably destructive, powerful” storm, Donald Trump said at the White House. | |
| “We’ve not seen destruction like that in a long time,” Trump said at a bill signing. | |
| The hurricane was massively powerful but the silver lining was that it moved through fast. “It went through Florida very, very quickly. It didn’t linger,” Trump said. | |
| The president also defended his decision to hold a political rally in Pennsylvania Wednesday night instead of canceling it to manage storm response. | |
| “I couldn’t tell people that had been standing in line for a day and a half waiting to get into the arena that I’m not going,” Trump said. “I wasn’t going to disappoint thousands and thousands of people.” | |
| “We’re getting tremendous marks for the job that we did,” Trump said of the disaster response. | |
| The Guardian’s Jamiles Lartey, who weathered the storm in Marianna, Florida, has re-established contact and will be filing a dispatch on the ground shortly. | The Guardian’s Jamiles Lartey, who weathered the storm in Marianna, Florida, has re-established contact and will be filing a dispatch on the ground shortly. |
| Hey all thanks for your concerns and well wishes. I'm safe here in Marianna-- Towers are back online, no doubt thanks to the folks I met yesterday. The damage here is remarkable and people are telling me-- unprecedented. Will have updates shortly at @GuardianUS and on here. pic.twitter.com/6TCSmEbSZb | Hey all thanks for your concerns and well wishes. I'm safe here in Marianna-- Towers are back online, no doubt thanks to the folks I met yesterday. The damage here is remarkable and people are telling me-- unprecedented. Will have updates shortly at @GuardianUS and on here. pic.twitter.com/6TCSmEbSZb |
| In Marianna, which is inland from the hardest-hit communities on the coast, social media posts showed widespread damage. | In Marianna, which is inland from the hardest-hit communities on the coast, social media posts showed widespread damage. |
| Downtown Marianna. pic.twitter.com/ml3WossdNx | Downtown Marianna. pic.twitter.com/ml3WossdNx |
| The view out my parents’ front door in Marianna. Used to be 40+ foot tall pine trees. #HurricaneMichael pic.twitter.com/ZFfMah4EUG | The view out my parents’ front door in Marianna. Used to be 40+ foot tall pine trees. #HurricaneMichael pic.twitter.com/ZFfMah4EUG |
| Not even going to lie this was scary. If got it this bad in Marianna I can only imagine the damage in PC😩🤦🏽♀️ #PrayingForThePanhandle pic.twitter.com/v0UC1sxP6t | Not even going to lie this was scary. If got it this bad in Marianna I can only imagine the damage in PC😩🤦🏽♀️ #PrayingForThePanhandle pic.twitter.com/v0UC1sxP6t |
| A few of the photos from Marianna, Fl. These were taken in the middle of eye. When it came through, it sounded like a loud freight train. Prayers for everyone involved with this storm. #HurricaneMichael eye #hurricanemichael pic.twitter.com/KpyrcfdpjW | A few of the photos from Marianna, Fl. These were taken in the middle of eye. When it came through, it sounded like a loud freight train. Prayers for everyone involved with this storm. #HurricaneMichael eye #hurricanemichael pic.twitter.com/KpyrcfdpjW |
| Just pulled into Marianna, FL & their is damage in every direction. Trees are blocking roads, power is down, roofs have been ripped off homes @WDHN pic.twitter.com/A7MPUXGKYF | Just pulled into Marianna, FL & their is damage in every direction. Trees are blocking roads, power is down, roofs have been ripped off homes @WDHN pic.twitter.com/A7MPUXGKYF |
| Marianna is torn up #HurricaneMichael pic.twitter.com/xkio7rdGKG | Marianna is torn up #HurricaneMichael pic.twitter.com/xkio7rdGKG |
| A federal judge has rejected a push to extend Florida’s voter registration deadline because of Hurricane Michael, the Associated Press reported. | A federal judge has rejected a push to extend Florida’s voter registration deadline because of Hurricane Michael, the Associated Press reported. |
| US district judge Robert Hinkle ruled late Wednesday that there was “no justification” to extend the deadline, according to AP. | |
| The deadline was Tuesday. Florida secretary of state Ken Detzner told local election officials that if their offices were closed Tuesday for the storm, they could accept applications for a single day when they reopened. | |
| The Florida Democratic party sued in an effort to get the deadline extended by a week, but the judge declined to do so. The general election is Nov. 6. | The Florida Democratic party sued in an effort to get the deadline extended by a week, but the judge declined to do so. The general election is Nov. 6. |
| Florida’s panhandle and gulf coast woke up “unimaginable destruction,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott said. | Florida’s panhandle and gulf coast woke up “unimaginable destruction,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott said. |
| “So many lives have been changed forever. So many families have lost everything. Homes are gone. Businesses are gone,” Scott said at a briefing at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. “Roads and infrastructure along the storm’s path have been destroyed. This hurricane was an absolute monster, and the damage left in its wake has yet to be fully understood.” | “So many lives have been changed forever. So many families have lost everything. Homes are gone. Businesses are gone,” Scott said at a briefing at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. “Roads and infrastructure along the storm’s path have been destroyed. This hurricane was an absolute monster, and the damage left in its wake has yet to be fully understood.” |
| Search and rescue teams have entered Panama City and Mexico Beach. | Search and rescue teams have entered Panama City and Mexico Beach. |
| The National Guard reached Mexico Beach Wednesday night and found 20 residents who had ridden out the storm there, and were uninjured, Scott said. | The National Guard reached Mexico Beach Wednesday night and found 20 residents who had ridden out the storm there, and were uninjured, Scott said. |
| The governor said he would join the National Guard to survey damage in Panama City and Mexico Beach Thursday. “I know what I’m going to see today is way worse than I would ever have imagined,” he said. | The governor said he would join the National Guard to survey damage in Panama City and Mexico Beach Thursday. “I know what I’m going to see today is way worse than I would ever have imagined,” he said. |
| Residents who evacuated for the storm were warned not to try to return on Thursday. | Residents who evacuated for the storm were warned not to try to return on Thursday. |
| “Do not try to travel home to a coastal community that was in the path of Hurricane Michael. It’s not safe,” Scott said. “Everyone needs to stay off the roads.” | “Do not try to travel home to a coastal community that was in the path of Hurricane Michael. It’s not safe,” Scott said. “Everyone needs to stay off the roads.” |
| The Florida health department has 80 ambulance strike teams and 400 ambulances ready to assist with search and rescue. | The Florida health department has 80 ambulance strike teams and 400 ambulances ready to assist with search and rescue. |
| The state is distributing two million meals and one million gallons of drinking water. | The state is distributing two million meals and one million gallons of drinking water. |
| Power is out at 400,000 homes and businesses in Florida, Scott said. More than 19,000 people are working on power restoration. | Power is out at 400,000 homes and businesses in Florida, Scott said. More than 19,000 people are working on power restoration. |
| Michael is now bringing heavy rain and tropical storm-force winds over North and South Carolina, says the National Hurricane Center in its 11am update. | Michael is now bringing heavy rain and tropical storm-force winds over North and South Carolina, says the National Hurricane Center in its 11am update. |
| The center of the storm is about 35 miles southeast of Charlotte, North Carolina. Sustained winds measure 50mph. | The center of the storm is about 35 miles southeast of Charlotte, North Carolina. Sustained winds measure 50mph. |
| The core of Michael will continue to move across central and eastern North Carolina today, move across southeastern Virginia this evening, and move into the Atlantic Ocean tonight, the center says. | The core of Michael will continue to move across central and eastern North Carolina today, move across southeastern Virginia this evening, and move into the Atlantic Ocean tonight, the center says. |
| Michael is expected to drop 4 to 7 inches of rain in parts of North and South Carolina, with up to 9 inches in isolated spots in North Carolina and Virginia. | Michael is expected to drop 4 to 7 inches of rain in parts of North and South Carolina, with up to 9 inches in isolated spots in North Carolina and Virginia. |
| Search and rescue crews have started making rescues of stranded people in the Florida Panhandle who rode out the storm. | Search and rescue crews have started making rescues of stranded people in the Florida Panhandle who rode out the storm. |
| The US Coast Guard in Mobile, Alabama told the Associated Press its crews have rescued 27 people. | The US Coast Guard in Mobile, Alabama told the Associated Press its crews have rescued 27 people. |
| A Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew pulled nine people from a bathroom of their Panama City home after their roof collapsed Wednesday afternoon, Petty Officer Third Class Ronald Hodges told the AP. | A Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew pulled nine people from a bathroom of their Panama City home after their roof collapsed Wednesday afternoon, Petty Officer Third Class Ronald Hodges told the AP. |
| Crews continue to search for more survivors. | Crews continue to search for more survivors. |
| Mexico Beach is “gone” after taking a direct hit from Hurricane Michael, CNN’s Brooke Baldwin said as she surveyed the damage from a helicopter. | Mexico Beach is “gone” after taking a direct hit from Hurricane Michael, CNN’s Brooke Baldwin said as she surveyed the damage from a helicopter. |
| Aerial footage showed whole swaths of homes complete demolished. | Aerial footage showed whole swaths of homes complete demolished. |
| “It’s gone. It’s gone,” Baldwin said. “It’s obliterated and it’s awful. It’s awful to look at.” | “It’s gone. It’s gone,” Baldwin said. “It’s obliterated and it’s awful. It’s awful to look at.” |
| “Home after home - what was a home - just flattened,” the correspondent added. | “Home after home - what was a home - just flattened,” the correspondent added. |
| CNN’s @BrookeBCNN is in a helicopter flying over Mexico Beach, Florida, getting a look at one of the hardest hit areas from Hurricane Michael: “It’s gone… it’s obliterated… I’ve never seen anything like this… I have no words” https://t.co/sFUNF4n8aS pic.twitter.com/lPpgc0IsWw | CNN’s @BrookeBCNN is in a helicopter flying over Mexico Beach, Florida, getting a look at one of the hardest hit areas from Hurricane Michael: “It’s gone… it’s obliterated… I’ve never seen anything like this… I have no words” https://t.co/sFUNF4n8aS pic.twitter.com/lPpgc0IsWw |
| Michael made landfall close to Mexico Beach with winds driving at 155 mph, a category 4 hurricane just shy of a category 5. | Michael made landfall close to Mexico Beach with winds driving at 155 mph, a category 4 hurricane just shy of a category 5. |
| Mexico Beach is home to about 1,200 people, and its mayor reported more than 200 had opted to stay and ride out the storm. | Mexico Beach is home to about 1,200 people, and its mayor reported more than 200 had opted to stay and ride out the storm. |
| The town measures about two miles by three miles and the wholesale devastation stretched as far as the eye could see, Baldwin reported. | The town measures about two miles by three miles and the wholesale devastation stretched as far as the eye could see, Baldwin reported. |
| More than 830,000 homes across the affected area were without power Thursday morning, Reuters reported. | More than 830,000 homes across the affected area were without power Thursday morning, Reuters reported. |
| At its height, the storm had knocked out power at 850,000 homes. Crews in Florida and Alabama had begun restoring some power after the worst of the storm blew through. | At its height, the storm had knocked out power at 850,000 homes. Crews in Florida and Alabama had begun restoring some power after the worst of the storm blew through. |
| The Florida Highway Patrol has closed 80 miles of Interstate 10, the main highway running through the Florida panhandle from east to west, to clear storm debris. | The Florida Highway Patrol has closed 80 miles of Interstate 10, the main highway running through the Florida panhandle from east to west, to clear storm debris. |
| Spokesman Eddie Elmore told the Associated Press the road was closed “due to extremely hazardous conditions.” | Spokesman Eddie Elmore told the Associated Press the road was closed “due to extremely hazardous conditions.” |
| The road is closed west of Tallahassee, and it’s not clear when it will reopen. | The road is closed west of Tallahassee, and it’s not clear when it will reopen. |
| Gov. Rick Scott urged Floridians Thursday morning to stay off the roads and keep them clear for emergency responders and utility crews. | Gov. Rick Scott urged Floridians Thursday morning to stay off the roads and keep them clear for emergency responders and utility crews. |
| I’m urging residents of impacted areas to continue to stay off the roads and listen to your local authorities so that our first responders and utility crews can do their jobs. We’re working diligently to get to everyone as quickly as we can. | I’m urging residents of impacted areas to continue to stay off the roads and listen to your local authorities so that our first responders and utility crews can do their jobs. We’re working diligently to get to everyone as quickly as we can. |
| This morning, crews are already out working to restore power and clear debris. Please stay off the roads this morning to let these crews work. Many roads are closed for your safety. Remember do not touch downed power lines or drive into dangerous conditions. | This morning, crews are already out working to restore power and clear debris. Please stay off the roads this morning to let these crews work. Many roads are closed for your safety. Remember do not touch downed power lines or drive into dangerous conditions. |
| The tiny town of Mexico Beach, Florida took the brunt of Hurricane Michael, which made landfall nearby with winds at 155mph. | The tiny town of Mexico Beach, Florida took the brunt of Hurricane Michael, which made landfall nearby with winds at 155mph. |
| Entire homes were destroyed by driving winds, while others were completely submerged by water. | Entire homes were destroyed by driving winds, while others were completely submerged by water. |
| A reporter and photographer from the Tampa Bay Times reached the town of 1,200 early Thursday. They reported that fires were burning uncontrolled, with no one to put them out. Entire homes were gone, with only stairs left leading to houses that no longer exist. | A reporter and photographer from the Tampa Bay Times reached the town of 1,200 early Thursday. They reported that fires were burning uncontrolled, with no one to put them out. Entire homes were gone, with only stairs left leading to houses that no longer exist. |
| The town was nearly impassable, with the main highway covered with downed trees and debris. Refrigerators, toilets and staircases from destroyed home where scattered wherever they were dropped by the wind. | The town was nearly impassable, with the main highway covered with downed trees and debris. Refrigerators, toilets and staircases from destroyed home where scattered wherever they were dropped by the wind. |
| Rex Putnal, a Mexico Beach City Council member, told CNN communications are down and city employees can’t even get into town to assess the damage. | Rex Putnal, a Mexico Beach City Council member, told CNN communications are down and city employees can’t even get into town to assess the damage. |
| “I don’t have any sense of any casualties,” he said. | “I don’t have any sense of any casualties,” he said. |
| Putnal said he has not returned to Mexico Beach, and advised residents not to until it is safe. His own home was built in the 1950s. “I’m not sure if it’s still there,” he told CNN. | Putnal said he has not returned to Mexico Beach, and advised residents not to until it is safe. His own home was built in the 1950s. “I’m not sure if it’s still there,” he told CNN. |
| He added of Mexico Beach, “It is forever changed, probably.” | He added of Mexico Beach, “It is forever changed, probably.” |
| The Guardian’s Jamiles Lartey is in Marianna, Florida and has lost communications so far this morning. But he sent SMS messages late last night about what it was like as the eye and the eyewalls of the storm went by. At 11pm ET Wednesday, he wrote: | The Guardian’s Jamiles Lartey is in Marianna, Florida and has lost communications so far this morning. But he sent SMS messages late last night about what it was like as the eye and the eyewalls of the storm went by. At 11pm ET Wednesday, he wrote: |
| “It passed right over me. We’re getting the rain bands coming through now. I can’t watch TV at all, no power at the hotel I’m in, but that doesn’t surprise me. But I’ve never experienced anything like this before.” | “It passed right over me. We’re getting the rain bands coming through now. I can’t watch TV at all, no power at the hotel I’m in, but that doesn’t surprise me. But I’ve never experienced anything like this before.” |
| Amid reports that people near the coast had barricaded themselves inside to stop the wind blowing down doors and walls, NBC’s Lester Holt and his crew were seen putting a mattress over the window of their hotel room. In a room above, which he said belonged to one of his producers, the window blew in, clearly with enough force to scatter shards of glass right across the room. There was no one in the room at the time. | Amid reports that people near the coast had barricaded themselves inside to stop the wind blowing down doors and walls, NBC’s Lester Holt and his crew were seen putting a mattress over the window of their hotel room. In a room above, which he said belonged to one of his producers, the window blew in, clearly with enough force to scatter shards of glass right across the room. There was no one in the room at the time. |
| Lartey, 72 miles inland from Mexico Beach, where the direct hit was experienced, had duct tape with him to put over the windows but in the end did not need it. Last night just before 11PM he wrote: “Have heard five to six glass breaks in the last 90 minutes. The roof at the hotel across from me is shredded. The sign, too.” | Lartey, 72 miles inland from Mexico Beach, where the direct hit was experienced, had duct tape with him to put over the windows but in the end did not need it. Last night just before 11PM he wrote: “Have heard five to six glass breaks in the last 90 minutes. The roof at the hotel across from me is shredded. The sign, too.” |
| At times as the wind roared, Lartey had to retreat behind the bed in his hotel room for safety. His window held. “We’re past the hurricane force winds now,” he said, before his communications went out. With day breaking, we’ll bring you more news from Jamiles when we hear from him. | At times as the wind roared, Lartey had to retreat behind the bed in his hotel room for safety. His window held. “We’re past the hurricane force winds now,” he said, before his communications went out. With day breaking, we’ll bring you more news from Jamiles when we hear from him. |
| The center of Michael is now moving over South Carolina, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. | The center of Michael is now moving over South Carolina, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. |
| Michael is now a tropical storm, driving sustained winds of 50mph. | Michael is now a tropical storm, driving sustained winds of 50mph. |
| The storm is about 40 miles northwest of Columbia, South Carolina. | The storm is about 40 miles northwest of Columbia, South Carolina. |
| While the storm weakened considerably since it tore through Florida as a category 4 hurricane, it is now hitting areas that were already reeling from Hurricane Florence. | While the storm weakened considerably since it tore through Florida as a category 4 hurricane, it is now hitting areas that were already reeling from Hurricane Florence. |
| The center of Michael will continue to move across central South Carolina this morning, then move across portions of central and eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia this afternoon andthis evening, according to the Hurricane Center. After that, it’s expected to blow back out into the Atlantic Ocean. | The center of Michael will continue to move across central South Carolina this morning, then move across portions of central and eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia this afternoon andthis evening, according to the Hurricane Center. After that, it’s expected to blow back out into the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Parts of North Carolina’s outer banks, which were hard hit by Florence, could see storm surge of two to four feet from Michael. | Parts of North Carolina’s outer banks, which were hard hit by Florence, could see storm surge of two to four feet from Michael. |
| Tropical storm conditions are now occurring over portions of eastern and southeastern Georgia and South Carolina, and will spread northward across central and eastern portions of North Carolina today. | Tropical storm conditions are now occurring over portions of eastern and southeastern Georgia and South Carolina, and will spread northward across central and eastern portions of North Carolina today. |
| After devastating the Florida Panhandle, Hurricane Michael headed for Georgia and the Carolinas late Wednesday. We’ll have more live updates today on its toll. | After devastating the Florida Panhandle, Hurricane Michael headed for Georgia and the Carolinas late Wednesday. We’ll have more live updates today on its toll. |
| A second death from the storm has been reported: An 11-year-old girl in Seminole County, Georgia died after a mobile carport was picked up by the wind, crashed through the roof of the home where she was staying, and hit her in the head, emergency management agency director Travis Brooks told WALB. | A second death from the storm has been reported: An 11-year-old girl in Seminole County, Georgia died after a mobile carport was picked up by the wind, crashed through the roof of the home where she was staying, and hit her in the head, emergency management agency director Travis Brooks told WALB. |
| It was 1:50 am Thursday by the time emergency crews were able to get to the girl, Brooks said. | It was 1:50 am Thursday by the time emergency crews were able to get to the girl, Brooks said. |