TOUR OF DESTRUCTION

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump toured parts of Florida and Georgia that have been devastated by Hurricane Michael, as hundreds of thousands of residents remain without electricity and a long, slow recovery effort is underway.

At a FEMA aid distribution center in Lynn Haven, Fla., the president described the damage caused by the storm that killed more than a dozen people after it made landfall last week.

“These are massive trees that have been just ripped out of the earth,” Mr. Trump said. “We’ve seen mostly water. And water can be very damaging, and scary, when you see water rising 14 or 15 feet. But nobody’s ever seen anything like this. This is really incredible.”

Mr. Trump noted that “we’re doing more than has probably ever been done,” and as he introduced himself to a police officer, said: “In 30 days, you will not recognize this place.”

Mr. Trump and the first lady arrived earlier Monday at Eglin Air Force Base in Okaloosa County, Fla., and were en route to Warner Robins, Ga., later in the afternoon. They were greeted by Republican Gov. Rick Scott, FEMA Administrator Brock Long, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and other officials.

“Rick Scott, your governor, has done an incredible job, and all of your people have been amazing — working with FEMA, working with the first responders, and always law enforcement,” Mr. Trump said before boarding a helicopter to survey the storm-damaged areas.

Mr. Trump added that the government’s priority was to provide food, power and safety to those affected.

Mr. Scott thanked Mr. Trump, who he said had “come through and done exactly what he said he was going to do.”

The Trumps then flew over devastated parts of Mexico Beach and Panama City, Fla. Mexico Beach is a tiny town that was nearly swept away by the storm; the president’s helicopter route took him over the debrisfilled scene, which included thousands of uprooted trees, a toppled water tower and homes torn loose from their foundations.

Hurricane Michael made landfall Wednesday as a Category 4 storm, tearing through parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. The storm has killed at least 18 people, a number that officials say is likely to rise as emergency crews work to reach some of the hardest-hit areas.

Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Florida Gov. Rick Scott, left, and President Donald Trump view damage Monday from Hurricane Michael in Lynn Haven, Fla.

Chang W. Lee/The New York Times Thomas Ard, 55, heads to his car with a box of bottled water given to him by the United Cajun Navy, a volunteer rescue and relief organization, in Lynn Haven, Fla., on Monday.

Doug Mills/The New York Times President Donald Trump, with FEMA director Brock Long, left, and first lady Melania Trump, tours damage from Hurricane Michael in Lynn Haven, Fla., on Monday.