As you may have seen in the news, Hurricane Michael has roared into Florida and is making its way steadily north. It first made landfall on Wednesday afternoon near Mexico Beach, Florida, the first Category 4 or higher hurricane to make landfall on the Florida panhandle. As of this writing, Michael is heading north through Georgia as a tropical storm with winds as high as 70mph. It’s been over 100 years since a hurricane of this strength has tracked into Georgia.
What We Know
- Winds and rain are beginning to calm across Florida and southern Georgia. Tropical storm conditions are expected to continue Thursday through Georgia and into the Carolinas, which were recently hit by Hurricane Florence.
- There are widespread storm surge warnings from Panama City, Florida eastward across the coast. People in the area should expect higher than normal tides and increased coastal flooding.
- It’s expected that millions of households from Florida to North Carolina could be without electricity.
Staying Updated
How You Can Help
- Give blood, if you are able to do so. No matter where you are in the country, your blood donation can help with the medical needs of those affected by the storm.
- If you live in the area and have access to social media, mark yourself safe so friends and family don’t worry.
- Organize a collection of supplies for residents affected by the storm. (Just be sure you can get the supplies to their intended destination before you begin your collection.) You can also connect with local food banks in affected areas and send money directly to them. Following natural disasters, money is often more helpful than supplies, since it’s easier to get into the hands of people who need it.
Our hearts go out to all those affected by Hurricane Michael. We encourage you to seek out ways to help those in need.