Photos, stories, videos and full coverage of Hurricane Michael

In just two hours, Michael ravaged the city of Panama, tearing trees and tearing roofs of houses. Several local residents gathered at a nearby hotel to seek refuge. "We made the right decision to come to the motel," said Ramon Zavala of Panama City. "The roof is destroyed and it is leaking, but everyone is safe."

Mexico Beach was devastated after Michael ripped the Florida vacation destination. "I do not know how to deal with this," said Becky Daniel, whose house was among those destroyed by the storm.

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Tyndall Air Force Base, a key element of the network of bases contributing to the protection of the American continent, was also badly hit by Michael. The base does not have any electricity, water or sewerage service. The Air Force announced that it was clearing a road providing security, drinking water, bathrooms and communication equipment.

The historical impact

Based on barometric pressure, Michael was the third hurricane to land in the United States, beating other notable storms such as Andrew and Katrina. Michael reached a steady wind speed of 155 km / h, the fourth highest of all time. The storm was two miles away at the time of officially becoming a Category 5 hurricane.

To what extent has global warming played a role in Michael's intensity? Unusually warm Gulf waters are a key potential factor, which experts say is linked to man-made climate change. "There is no doubt that the seawater encountered by Michael was relatively warm compared to the last three decades, especially near the coast," said Weather.us meteorologist Ryan Maue.

More: I lived (and covered) many hurricanes in Florida. Hurricane Michael was different.

The relief effort

Once Michael leaves, volunteers from the Salvation Army and the Red Cross will spread to Florida to feed thousands of storm survivors. Salvation Army officials said that each of their sites would serve two hot meals a day. The American Red Cross said that about 4,000 people remained Tuesday night in 70 Red Cross and community evacuation centers in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

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Although Michael is now off the east coast and out in the water, federal authorities are encouraging residents to stay away from flooded areas. Teams such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency are prioritizing the resumption of communications and transportation in the affected areas. Meanwhile, the teams continue to repair the damaged electricity and gas lines.

Images

The city of Panama, Florida suffered significant damage during Hurricane Michael. (Photo: TREVOR HUGHES, USA TODAY & # 39; HUI)