Michael Wanes to Tropical Storm After Pummeling Florida
Hurricane Michael was a category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 155 mph when it came ashore Wednesday close to Mexico Beach, Fla.
Hurricane Michael was a category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 155 mph when it came ashore Wednesday near Mexico Beach, Fla. The National Hurricane Center's 8 a.m. Oct. 11 advisory said it had weakened to a tropical storm, with maximum winds of 50 mph, and was located about 40 miles northwest of Columbia, S.C., and moving to the northeast at 21 mph.
The hurricane caused major flooding in the Florida Panhandle and significant damage, according to local news media reports. Florida Gov. Rick Scott had asked President Donald J. Trump for a major disaster declaration after the hurricane made landfall.
At Florida Gov. Rick Scott's request, President Trump approved a pre-landfall emergency declaration for the 35 counties where the governor already had declared a state of emergency because of the approaching storm. The declaration will provide resources and assistance from the federal government, including personnel, equipment, and supplies, and make funding sources for emergency protective measures available.
Among the actions taken by state agencies to prepare for the storm's impacts and subsequent recovery efforts, the Florida National Guard as of Oct. 9 had activated 2,500 soldiers and airmen for pre-landfall coordination and planning, with an emphasis on high water and search and rescue operations.