The aftermath in Florida Gulf Coast towns directly hit by the storm
Hurricane Michael destroyed buildings in Mexico Beach on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Ginger Zee, Good Morning America meteorologist/for PhillyVoice
by Thom Carroll PhillyVoice Contributor
One of the most powerful hurricanes to ever hit the United States made landfall on Wednesday, slamming the Florida panhandle as a Category 4 storm.
Hurricane Michael's extreme winds – near 150 mph – uprooted trees and collapsed buildings. The storm crept inland throughout the day making its way toward Georgia and Alabama as a Category 3 storm.
By 11 a.m. Thursday it was a tropical storm moving northeast, and expected to be out to sea (off the Jersey Shore) on Friday morning.
The following photos are from Florida Gulf Coast towns – Port St. Joe, Mexico Beach and Panama City – directly hit by the powerful storm.
Port St. Joe Resident/for PhillyVoiceThe destruction of Hurricane Michael on Florida's Mexico Beach. Port St. Joe Resident/for PhillyVoiceThe destruction of Hurricane Michael on Florida's Mexico Beach. Port St. Joe Resident/for PhillyVoiceThe destruction of Hurricane Michael in Florida town of Port St. Joe.
Port St. Joe Resident/for PhillyVoiceThe destruction of Hurricane Michael is seen Port St. Joe.Port St. Joe Resident/for PhillyVoiceHurricane Michael did much damage in Port St. Joe.Port St. Joe Resident/for PhillyVoiceThe destruction of Hurricane Michael in Florida's Port St. Joe.Mark haddock/for PhillyVoiceThe hurricane overwhelmed the town of Port St. Joe.