Hurricane Michael was roaring toward the Florida Panhandle and getting even stronger before making landfall later Wednesday. As of 8 a.m. ET, the intense Category 4 hurricane was packing top sustained winds of 145 mph.
The National Hurricane Center described Michael as “potentially catastrophic.” Michael could be the worst storm ever to hit the Panhandle.
Nearly 30 million people in the Southeast are in Michael’s crosshairs. Forecasters said it will bring damaging winds and potentially life-threatening storm surge.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott said on Twitter Wednesday morning that “the time for evacuating along the coast has come and gone.” “CBS This Morning” co-host John Dickerson asked Scott what people should do if they were about to evacuate and see that statement.
“You’ve waited too long,” Scott said. “You’ve got to hunker down. You’ve got to get to shelter as quickly as you can. This thing is coming … it’s getting worse.”
Scott said that people in places like Tallahassee, which is not on the coast, had a small amount time left to evacuate but not much. “We’re going to have hurricane-force winds even in a place like Tallahassee,” Scott said.
Amtrak service disrupted
Amtrak is adjusting service to Florida for the safety of its passengers and employees because of Hurricane Michael.
Silver Star trains traveling from New York to Miami will operate from Miami to Jacksonville, Florida, beginning Wednesday and the Palmetto, which runs between New York and Savannah, Georgia, will operate between New York and Washington beginning Thursday.
Amtrak is waiving fees for passengers who change their reservations.
Some Panhandle residents told to stay put
Residents of the Florida county that includes Panama City who haven’t evacuated are being told to ride out Hurricane Michael wherever they are.
CBS News
