Panama City damage in pictures: Devastating aftermath of Hurricane Michael in Florida
At least six people have been killed after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida panhandle
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Hurricane Michael has left a trail devastation in its wake after making landfall in Mexico Beach, Florida — roughly 20 miles southeast of Panama City in the state’s Panhandle area.
Michael is one of the strongest storms to hit the state in the past 80 years, and left hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia.
Mexico Beach and Panama City have been left facing what Florida Governor Rick Scott called "unimaginable destruction".
The storm made landfall just north of Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing with it 155 mph sustained winds that that fell just short of making Michael a Category 5 storm.
Photographs show that the region took a heavy hit from Hurricane Michael. In some photos, Jinks Middle School in Panama City was shown to have endured such harsh winds that a drone was able to fly straight into the school’s gymnasium after heavy winds pulled the roof back and collapsed walls.
Vance Beu told the Associated Press that he was staying with his mother at an apartment complex with Hurricane Michael hit the region, and that the storm sounded like a “super high-pitched” roar that sounded as if “a jet engine was coming”.
“It was terrifying, honestly,” Mr Beu told that news service. “There was a lot of noise. We thought the windows were going to break at any time".
As the day began on Thursday, emergency response crews were working to clear debris from roads and to initiate rescue operations where possible. Federal Emergency Management Administration (Fema) administrator Brock Long told “FOX & Friends” on Thursday that those workers were only abel to conduct a “limited” amount of search and rescue missions Wednesday before nightfall.
At least two people are said to have died in the storm, and more mortalities may soon be discovered as crews work to help the region to regain stability. Those deaths include a Florida man who was killed by a tree that crashed through his roof. An 11-year-old Georgia girl was also killed in the storm when her family’s mobile home was rammed by a car port.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments