Panhandle residents brace as Michael’s threat increases
Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for Florida’s Panhandle and Big Bend regions as the state’s Gulf coast braces for what could become Hurricane Michael.
Now-Tropical Storm Michael is making its way into the Gulf of Mexico, and forecasters say it could become a hurricane before making landfall later this week.
The National Hurricane Center clocked the storm’s top winds at 50 mph, and it’s expected it to strengthen, according to a 5 p.m. Sunday advisory. A storm is considered a Category 1 hurricane after its maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph.
Michael could strengthen to hurricane status by Monday night or Tuesday, forecasters said, bringing with it storm surges and rain to Florida’s northern Gulf coast.
Michael was just over 190 miles south-
west of the western tip of Cuba as of 5 p.m. Sunday and about 130 miles southeast of Cozumel, Mexico.
“On the forecast track, the center will move near the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula Monday morning, and then across the eastern Gulf of Mexico late Monday through Wednesday morning,” the hurricane center said in an advisory.
Scott’s declaration frees up resources for storm preparation in the 26 counties under the state of emergency. He urged residents to stock up on three days worth of food and water and refill medications.
“Today is the time to get a plan,” he said. “Do not put it off.”
The capital city of Tallahassee on Sunday opened two locations where residents could get sandbags in case of flooding.
“While the impacts are still uncertain, our area could experience increased wind activity and heavy rainfall, which could cause localized flooding and downed trees,” Tallahassee officials said in a statement.
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is the Democratic nominee for governor, had planned to campaign in South Florida Monday and Tuesday, but he said he would return to Tallahassee to help with storm preparations.
While the storm is not expected at this point to approach South Florida, its outer bands were expected to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain to the Florida Keys through Monday.