Hurricane Michael Updates: Fla. Panhandle Takes A Cat-4 Wallop

TAMPA, FL – Hurricane Michael arrived in the Florida Panhandle with all the fury weather forecaster warned. The Category 4 hurricane unleashed its "extremely dangerous" 155 mph winds along the coast near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon. It carried a life-threatening storm surge, hurricane force winds and heavy rainfall as it slammed into Florida. By 3 p.m. ET, the winds had dropped only slightly to 150 mph.

The storm's wrath is on a steady course for the Georgia stateline, and is expected to move into the Peach state by Wednesday evening. In the short time Michael has lingered over Florida, it has peeled roofs from buildings and dumped several inches of rain.

By 4 p.m. Wednesday, the eye of the storm was approaching Interstate 10 in the Panhandle, reported the National Hurricane Center.

"Everyone in these areas is reminded not to venture out into the relative calm of the eye, as hazardous winds will increase very quickly as the eye passes," the Hurricane Center advised.

Nearly 200,000 homes and businesses were without power in Florida as a result of the storm, according to poweroutage.us.

The sheer fury of Michael was unprecedented in Florida's Panhandle region and formed a sharp contrast to the calm waters that many Americans experience when they visit the state on vacation. A federal official briefing President Trump said that Michael could be the most destructive hurricane to strike the Panhandle since 1851.

Calling it the "worst storm the Florida Panhandle has seen in a century," Florida Gov. Rick Scott said residents can expect to see conditions deteriorate rapidly over the next few hours as Hurricane Michael bears down on north Florida, packing 145-mph winds.

In a news conference Wednesday morning, Scott said 375,000 people have been evacuated from Citrus, Bay, Escambia, Santa Rosa, Dixie, Taylor, Wakulla, Franklin, Liberty, Gulf, Okaloosa, Walton and Jefferson counties. Additionally, officials have called for voluntary evacuations along the coast of Hernando and Pasco counties. Fifty evacuation shelters have been opened for evacuees.

Scott said Hurricane Michael is continuing to gain strength and could be upgraded to a Category 5 hurricane before it reaches Florida sometime this afternoon.

Michael is upon us, it is time to seek refuge. Once you are sheltered, STAY PUT. Do not try to leave until the storm has passed. Multiple state and federal resources are staged and ready to respond as soon as it is safe.
— Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) October 10, 2018

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Here are the latest stories and need-to-know information on Hurricane Michael:

• Here Are Florida's 35 Emergency Shelters
One shelter is now full, but 34 shelters remain open. Patch has mapped every shelter listed on the state's disaster website for your convenience.

• Hurricane Michael Prompts Governor To Activate Disaster Fund
Gov. Rick Scott has activated the Florida Disaster Fund to help provide financial support to communities impacted by Hurricane Michael.

• Power Companies Prepare For Possible Outages
As Hurricane Michael races toward the Panhandle, power companies serving northwest Florida are preparing for outages. Hurricane Michael is expected to be a Category 4 hurricane at landfall Wednesday afternoon with 120 mph winds, life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall.

• Airbnb Activates Open Homes Program For Hurricane Michael
Airbnb has activated its Open Homes Program to aid residents of the Panhandle and northern Florida forced to evacuate from their homes in connection with Hurricane Michael, as well as relief workers arriving to provide assistance.

• Hurricane Michael Causes A Flood of Storm Footage, Memes Online
Hurricane Michael has inspired thousands of people to take to social media to share storm footage, memes, and best wishes for those in the path of what is being called one of the worst storms to hit Florida's panhandle.

• Hurricane Michael: Airports Close; Airlines Cancel Flights
As Hurricane Michael continues moving toward the Florida Panhandle, the area's four airports announced they will cease all flights. Additionally, eight airlines are issuing travel waivers for Hurricane Michael, with Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest and United extending their waivers all the way to Atlanta International Airport.

• Atlanta Motor Speedway Opens For Evacuees
Atlanta Motor Speedway is doing its part to help those fleeing the path of Hurricane Michael. The Henry County-based institution will open its camping facilities to evacuees seeking a temporary place to call home.

• Hurricane Michael Speeds Closer; Florida Evacuations Ordered
Some mandatory evacuation orders and school closures were issued on Monday in the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend area as Hurricane Michael spun toward Florida, gaining strength in the warm Gulf waters.

• Hurricane Michael: Jim Cantore Stay Away
When your state is facing a once-in-a-decade storm, the last person you want to see blow into town is The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore. In fact, some people consider it a bad omen given the TV weatherman's penchant for finding himself in the thick of some of the worst storms in U.S. history.

Photo 1: People photograph the surf from encroaching Hurricane Michael, which is expected to make landfall today, in Panama City Beach, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. The hurricane center says Michael will be the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall on the Florida Panhandle. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Photo 2: Bobby Smith boards up the windows at Jani's Ceramics in Panama City, Fla., on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Michael. (Patti Blake/News Herald via AP)