A very high level. Some are saying its one of the biggest storms ever to hit our country. It built very rapidly,ed a briefing with secretary of Homeland Security and the administrator of fema and we are watching Hurricane Michael. Its just hitting shore now. Winds are going up to close to 200 miles an hour. Category 4. You dont hear about that. Its the most powerful recorded storm to strike the Florida Panhandle ever. It will bring with it anywhere from 150 mile to almost 200 mile an hour winds. The storm surges could be up to 15 feet. Additional rainfall could also produce Flash Flooding at the highest levels. We have been in constant communications with governor rick scott of florida. With all the authorities in the various states. Were very well prepared for massive amounts of food and we have First Responders all over, the Electrical Companies are staged and ready to go in after the storm. Over a thousands trucks. We have large amounts of food and water and Everything Else that you
for us in florida. erica, it s really difficult for emergency crews and journalists for that matter to reach some of the most devastated areas along the panhandle. reporter: wolf, that is one of the big est 8 challenges today. as we made our way here early this morning, the number of downed power lines, trees and just debris in the road did make it difficult. the other issue that first responders and officials are facing, there is virtually no cell service at this point. so without some sort of satellite phone, it is almost impossible to get in touch with people. and, of course, all of this happening as this state is still trying to assess the full extent of the damage. from the air, a first look at a beach town almost completely wiped out. our lives are gone here. reporter: daylight exposing the force of hurricane michael. this category 4 storm which made landfall near mexico beach, packing winds of more than 150 miles per hour. we had furniture in our house that wasn t even
south carolina. the still very dangerous tropical storm at this hour as officials in three states say more than half a million people are without power. nearly 6,600 people in shelters. two people died in separate incidents. a florida man and 11-year-old boy in georgia killed when trees fell on their homes. no telling what first responders will find today. they are beginning to search through homes as conditions improve. just about two hours until sunrise. michael made landfall near mexico beach, florida with winds excess of 140 miles an hour. the video just in to cnn. this is the sudden calm in the eye of the hurricane. look at the spectacularly defined eyewall. the category five launched rooftops across the street. the strongest hurricane to hit the continental united states since andrew in 1992. michael leaving devastation in
they are beginning to search through homes as conditions improve. michael made landfall near mexico beach, florida with winds excess of 140 miles an hour. the video just in to cnn. this is the sudden calm in the eye of the hurricane. look at the spectacularly defined eyewall. the storm just shy of category five launched rooftops across the street. the strongest hurricane to hit the continental united states since andrew in 1992. michael leaving devastation in its wake. look at the drone footage of the gym in panama city. peeled back. same with the nearby shopping mall which locals say was recently remodelled. this boat warehouse is a total loss. downed power lines across the region. it may be weeks before the power is restored everywhere. for proof of the power, check out the train blown off the rails in panama city. cnn s derek van dam was in the thick of it.
city beach, florida. you ve been seeing this image for the first time and how horrific is this for them? jake, a lot of them are speechless. this is definitely a case where the pictures truly do tell the story. they are coming home in some cases to find their neighborhoods gone. one woman who i spoke with lives just to the right of where i am right now, and she said when she tried to come home from the shelter she had to walk because there was no other way to get there, but the real damage, as you pointed out, is ground zero in mexico beach. from the air, a first look at a beach town almost completely wiped out. our lives are gone here. daylight exposing the force of hurricane michael. this category 4 storm made landfall near mexico beach and packed winds of nearly 150 miles per hour. we had furniture in our how is that wasn t even our furniture. reporter: getting into mexico beach a challenge in itself. roads clogged with downed pour lines, trees and debris.