Images: The Times eyewitness account to damage inflicted by Hurricane Michael after landfall
Hurricane Michael is the third-most powerful storm to ever hit Florida.
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Robert Brock, 27, of Mexico Beach, walks westbound on US 98 through the coastal township, population 1200, which lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. Brock said he stayed in the city to ride out the storm. "This is a total disaster, there is nothing left," Brock said. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
By
Tampa Bay Times
Published Oct. 11, 2018|Updated Oct. 9, 2019
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
The coastal township of Mexico Beach, population 1200, lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
The coastal township of Mexico Beach, population 1200, lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
The restroom in the home of Cindy an James Murphy, in Port St. Joe, is plastered with the remnants of a violent tidal surge on Thursday (10/11/18) which damaged most of the homes on the town's coast and decimated a majority of coastal structures in adjacent Mexico Beach after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
From left: Al Cathey, 71, Lee Cathey, 37, and Charles Smith, 56, survey damage in the coastal township of Mexico Beach, population 1200, which lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. Al, sho said he is the mayor, believes 280 residents rode out the storm in their homes. Lee had found his shotgun in the middle of US 98, which was displaced from his hardware store in the storm. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
The coastal township of Mexico Beach, population 1200, lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Cindy Murphy, 58, left, finds a rolling pin while searching for her husband James Murphy's, 65, medication on Thursday (10/11/18) in what remains of their home on a coastal stretch of Port St. Joe. The couple's dog, J.J., at right, survived, but they have ben unable to locate their cat. Cindy was surprised to find the rolling pin, which did not belong to her and was among dozens of items from others homes which were displaced by Hurricane Michael's violent storm surge and wind as it made landfall on Wednesday (10/10/18) in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
The coastal township of Mexico Beach, population 1200, lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
The coastal township of Mexico Beach, population 1200, lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Emergency workers Dr. Patricia Cantrell, left, and Ana Kaufmann, with the South Florida Search and Rescue Task Force 2, survey damage at the western edge of town at Mexico Beach, population 1200, which lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Charles Smith, 56, left, and Lee Cathey, 37, find a few bottled waters in a displaced refrigerator in the middle of US 98 in the coastal township of Mexico Beach, population 1200, which lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
The coastal township of Mexico Beach, population 1200, lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Emergency workers form a caravan at the western edge of town at Mexico Beach, population 1200, where they planned to join the South Florida Search and Rescue Task Force to clear home and to make contact with survivors in the township which lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
From left: Lee Cathey, 37, Al Cathey, 71, and Charles Smith, 56, survey damage in the coastal township of Mexico Beach, population 1200, which lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. Al, sho said he is the mayor, believes 280 residents rode out the storm in their homes. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
James Murphy, 65, emerges from what remains of his home on Thursday (10/11/18) on a coastal stretch of Port St. Joe. The home was severely damaged by Hurricane Michael's violent storm surge and wind as it made landfall on Wednesday (10/10/18) in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
The coastal township of Mexico Beach, population 1200, lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Vegetation lay scattered on the beach of the coastal township of Mexico Beach, population 1200, on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
The coastal township of Mexico Beach, population 1200, lay devastated on Thursday (10/11/18) after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. ] [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon, devastating the coastal town as it lashed the Florida Panhandle. These photos were taken early Thursday morning. [ ZACHARY T. SAMPSON | Douglas R. Clifford ]
BRONTE WITTPENN | Times
Scattered debris and damage can be seen after Hurricane Michael, a category four, slammed into homes in Shell Point Beach on Thursday, October 11, 2018. [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]
BRONTE WITTPENN | Times
Scattered debris and damage can be seen after Hurricane Michael, a category four, slammed into homes in Shell Point Beach on Thursday, October 11, 2018. [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]
BRONTE WITTPENN | Times
Scattered debris and damage can be seen after Hurricane Michael, a category four, slammed into homes in Shell Point Beach on Thursday, October 11, 2018. [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]
CHRIS URSO | Times
Dianthe Aibejeris, 40, of Fort Lauderdale hugs her best friend's children Alyssa Washington, 11, right, and her brother Jamison Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 in Keaton Beach. Aibejeris and her family operate a small trailer campground on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Although they had four feet of water from Hurricane Michael cover the campground Aibejeris and her family didn't sustain any damage unlike when Hurricane Hermine barreled through the area in 2016. [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]
BRONTE WITTPENN | Times
Scattered debris and damage can be seen after Hurricane Michael, a category four, slammed into homes in Shell Point Beach on Thursday, October 11, 2018. [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]
BRONTE WITTPENN | Times
Scattered debris and damage can be seen after Hurricane Michael, a category four, slammed into homes in Shell Point Beach on Thursday, October 11, 2018. [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]
BRONTE WITTPENN | Times
Scattered debris and damage can be seen after Hurricane Michael, a category four, slammed into homes in Shell Point Beach on Thursday, October 11, 2018. [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]
CHRIS URSO | Times
A brick home is gutted while a bicycle that was tied to a tree stayed intact Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 in Shell Point Beach. Hurricane Michael destroyed some structures and left residents of Shell Point Beach without power after barreling through the area yesterday. [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]
CHRIS URSO | Times
The contents of block home are seen outside of a home Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 in Shell Point Beach. Hurricane Michael destroyed some structures and left residents of Shell Point Beach without power after barreling through the area yesterday. [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]
BRONTE WITTPENN | Times
Scattered debris and damage can be seen after Hurricane Michael, a category four, slammed into homes in Shell Point Beach on Thursday, October 11, 2018. [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]
CHRIS URSO | Times
A woman, who asked not to be identified, is framed within the broken out windows of her neighbor's home as she shovels sand from underneath her home Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 in Shell Point Beach. Hurricane Michael destroyed some structures and left residents of Shell Point Beach without power after barreling through the area yesterday. [ URSO, CHRIS | Tampa Bay Times ]
BRONTE WITTPENN | Times
Scattered debris and damage can be seen after Hurricane Michael, a category four, slammed into homes in Shell Point Beach on Thursday, October 11, 2018. [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]
BRONTE WITTPENN | Times
Scattered debris and damage can be seen after Hurricane Michael, a category four, slammed into homes in Shell Point Beach on Thursday, October 11, 2018. [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]
BRONTE WITTPENN | Times
Scattered debris and damage can be seen after Hurricane Michael, a category four, slammed into homes in Shell Point Beach on Thursday, October 11, 2018. [ BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES ]
Members of Florida National Guard patrol Alligator Drive in Alligator Point on October 11, 2018, one day after Hurricane Michael hit the area. TAILYR IRVINE | Times [ TAILYR IRVINE | TIMES ]
Sgt. Luke Bednar, 28, of Plant City, inspects a washed up engine on Alligator Drive in Alligator Point on October 11, 2018, one day after Hurricane Michael hit the area. TAILYR IRVINE | Times [ TAILYR IRVINE | TIMES ]
Florida Army National Guard Lt. Matt Wagner walks along what is left of Alligator Drive in Alligator Point on October 11, 2018, one day after Hurricane Michael hit the area. The National Guard descended on the area around 4 p.m. TAILYR IRVINE | Times [ TAILYR IRVINE | TIMES ]
A house sits in wreckage after Hurricane Michael stormed the area In Spring Creek on October 10, 2018. TAILYR IRVINE | Times [ TAILYR IRVINE | TIMES ]
Members of Florida National Guard and the Air Force patrol Alligator Drive in Alligator Point on October 11, 2018, one day after Hurricane Michael hit the area. TAILYR IRVINE | Times [ TAILYR IRVINE | TIMES ]
Lorie Spears, 46, searches through two-feet of water for a water main In Spring Creek on October 11, 2018 after Hurricane Michael hit the area. Spears' home was devastated by hurricane. TAILYR IRVINE | Times [ TAILYR IRVINE | TIMES ]
Members of Florida National Guard walk back to their trucks after patrolling Alligator Drive in Alligator Point on October 11, 2018, one day after Hurricane Michael hit the area. TAILYR IRVINE | Times [ TAILYR IRVINE | TIMES ]
A cat sits on a pile of wreckage In Spring Creek on October 11, 2018. Hurricane Michael demolished the old fishing house when it hit on October 10, 2018. TAILYR IRVINE | Times [ TAILYR IRVINE | TIMES ]