UPDATE: October 10, 11:40 a.m.

This covers EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE…FLORIDA BIG BEND…SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA

**HURRICANE MICHAEL IS A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE WITH WINDS OF 150 MPH. THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED EVENT FOR THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND BIG BEND.**

NEW INFORMATION

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* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:

– None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:

– A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Baker, Brooks, Calhoun, Calhoun, Central Walton, Clay, Colquitt, Dale, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Gadsden, Geneva, Grady, Henry, Holmes, Houston, Inland Bay, Inland Jefferson, Jackson, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Miller, Mitchell, North Walton, Quitman, Randolph, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Washington, and Worth

– A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for Coastal Bay, Coastal Dixie, Coastal Franklin, Coastal Gulf, Coastal Jefferson, Coastal Taylor, Coastal Wakulla, Inland Franklin, Inland Gulf, Inland Wakulla, and South Walton

– A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Ben Hill, Berrien, Coffee, Cook, Inland Dixie, Inland Taylor, Irwin, Lafayette, Lanier, Lowndes, and Madison

* STORM INFORMATION:

– About 50 miles south-southwest of PANAMA CITY or about 60 miles west-southwest of APALACHICOLA

– 29.4N 86.0W

– Storm Intensity 150 mph

– Movement North-northeast or 15 degrees at 14 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW

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Hurricane Michael is a solid category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 MPH. Devastating storm surge and winds are
expected to continue to unfold through the day and into the overnight hours. Michael is expected to make landfall as a category 4 along the
Florida Panhandle Coast sometime in the next few hours. This is an unprecedented event as there are no Category 4 storms on record to
have made landfall along the Florida Panhandle coast. There is an increasing threat for tornadoes today as rain bands continue to move
onshore. Michael is expected to bring life- threatening storm surge, widespread power outages that will last days to even more than a week
in some areas, downed trees that will block access to roads and endanger individuals, structural damage to homes and businesses,
isolated flash flooding and the potential for tornadoes. Trees falling on homes will become a dangerous and potentially deadly situation.
Preparations and evacuations should be complete at this time. Now is the time to shelter in place in an interior room away from windows at
the lowest level possible.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS

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* WIND:
Potential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across the Florida Panhandle, Western Big Bend, SW Georgia and SE Alabama. Remain well sheltered from life-threatening wind having devastating impacts. If realized, these impacts include:

– Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage
greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

– Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over.

– Many roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. Many bridges, causeways, and access
routes impassable.

– Widespread power and communications outages.

* SURGE:
Potential impacts from the main surge event are now unfolding across the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend coastline. Remain well away from life-threatening surge having catastrophic impacts. If realized, these impacts include:

– Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural damage to
buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly compounded from considerable floating debris. Locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period.

– Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed.

– Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible.

– Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted
onshore and stranded.

* FLOODING RAIN:
Potential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across the Florida Panhandle, Western Big Bend, SW Georgia and SE Alabama.
Remain well guarded against life-threatening flood waters having extensive impacts. If realized, these impacts include:

– Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues.

– Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places. Small streams, creeks, and ditches may become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed.

– Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.

* TORNADOES:
Potential impacts from tornadoes are still unfolding across the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend and SW Georgia. Remain well braced
against a dangerous tornado event having significant impacts. If
realized, these impacts include:

– The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events.

– Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures.

– Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about. Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

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* EVACUATIONS:
Listen to local officials for recommended preparedness actions and evacuations. Conditions will deteriorate this morning and the time
to evacuate is quickly ending. Remain in a safe place and do not return until county officials say it is safe.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
During the peak of the storm be ready to move quickly. Keep your shoes on and rain gear handy. Boots and athletic shoes offer the best
foot protection if you become unexpectedly exposed to the weather. Keep your cell phone charged and in power-saving mode. If you lose
power, use it sparingly and mainly for personal emergencies and check-ins. If a tornado warning is issued for your area, quickly move to the safest place within your shelter. Protect your head and body. If an Extreme Wind Warning is issued for your area, move to the safest place within your shelter. Take the same life-saving actions as if it were a violent tornado.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

– For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov

– For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org

NEXT UPDATE

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The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Tallahassee FL around 6 PM EDT, or sooner if conditions
warrant.

 

VALDOSTA – Hurricane Michael is just hours from a catastrophic, unprecedented landfall along Florida’s northeastern Gulf Coast

Hurricane Michael is headed for a catastrophic, unprecedented Category 4 strike on the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend with a massive storm surge and over 100 mph winds possible not just near the coast, but also inland that could leave some areas without power for over a week.