Supplies low, anxiety high in Florida ahead of Hurricane Michael
Floridians on the northwestern coastline are in a mad rush to buy
generators, gasoline and water before Hurricane Michael arrives
Wednesday.
The Category 2 storm is strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico and is
forecast to become a Category 3 hurricane by the time it hits the
Florida Panhandle. Numerous preparations are being made ahead of the
storm.
Several stores have run out of generators, but are expected to get more deliveries.
Pensacola International Airport will close at midnight Tuesday and
remain closed until further notice. Also, several airlines have waived
change fees for travel in areas affected by Hurricane Michael, meaning
air travelers can change their flight at no cost. Delta Air Lines capped
air fares and Southwest passengers can change flights without paying
the difference.
Morgan Barry, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said
Floridians in the path of the hurricane have the rest of Tuesday to
prepare by tying down loose items and clearing yards of debris.
"That [wind level] could bring trees [down], especially with the rain
bands soaking the ground, so that could be an issue and there's still
the high surge across the area," Barry said.
The Gulf Islands National Seashore closed Tuesday in advance of the hurricane.
The coming storm has also prompted state officials to extend the
deadline to register to vote. Originally, Tuesday was going to be the
final day, but prospective voters now have until the day after whenever
the office reopens.
Michael is on track to hit one of the poorest and most vulnerable areas of the region, with little coastal protection.
Mandatory evacuations are underway in Bay County, which includes Panama
City, and Gulf and Franklin counties. The coastal areas of Destin and
Panama City have dense clusters of beachfront homes, condominiums and
hotels that are at risk from the storm surge.
Franklin County has one highway -- US 98 -- running east and west through it.
"Most of that is within 100 feet of the coast," Alan Pierce, a retired Franklin County administrator, said.
If a storm surge cuts that highway off, it would make recovery efforts difficult. The nearest detour is 30 miles away.
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