Scott: ‘Monstrous’ Michael Possibly Worst In Decades

October 9, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott on Monday called Hurricane Michael a “monstrous” and potentially “deadly” storm that is barreling toward Florida.

“It’s a massive storm. We haven’t seen anything like this in the Panhandle in decades,” Scott said at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center.

Michael has the potential to be the strongest storm in the region since Hurricane Eloise swept across Bay County in September 1975 with 110 mph winds. Hurricane Opal carried 100 mph winds when it hit Pensacola Beach in October 1995. Hurricane Ivan made landfall near Gulf Shores, Ala., at 120 mph in September 2004. And Hurricane Dennis was at 105 mph when it hit Santa Rosa Island in July 2005.

A state of emergency was declared in 35 counties — including  Escambia and Santa Rosa. State offices will be closed in Escambia, Santa Rosa and the other 33 counties through Thursday.

Scott has activated 1,250 members of the Florida National Guard, with another 4,250 on standby.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said the Florida Forest Service and the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement are preparing teams to support urban search and rescue operations.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has also designated 40 law-enforcement officers for rapid deployment. The Florida Highway Patrol is pre-deploying 100 State Troopers to the Panhandle and Big Bend area of Florida in preparation for Hurricane Michael.

by The News Service of Florida with contribution from NorthEscambia.com

Pictured: Gov. Rick Scott at the Escambia County Operations Center late Monday afternoon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “Scott: ‘Monstrous’ Michael Possibly Worst In Decades”

  1. wendell on October 9th, 2018 3:55 pm

    My goodness he’s talking about the Big Bend and Tallahassee area of the Panhandle and specifically and exclusively Florida (that’s the state he’s governor of by the way)-how is it possible for this point to fly over so many peoples’ head? The wind hasn’t even started yet!

  2. anne 1of2 on October 9th, 2018 12:31 pm

    Was he out to lunch for the hurricanes? Ivan made Opal look like a kitten! I’ll have to send him a copy of Ivan’s Wake.

  3. calm down on October 9th, 2018 11:26 am

    That’s what he said last year about the hurricane whose name I can’t even remember.

  4. Mike on October 9th, 2018 10:45 am

    Mr. Scott has not seen anything like this in decades. Well, we have seen Ivan, which was much bigger and stronger than Michael. we will see how strong is Michael at landfall.

  5. confused on October 9th, 2018 9:03 am

    Decades? Really?
    No doubt this is a bad storm, but decades? In the words of bugs bunny, what a maroon.

  6. Maree Xenos on October 9th, 2018 8:50 am

    Thankyou.Appreciate all the updates and efforts prior to Michael. However, Hurricane Ivan certainly had to be the Monster of 2004. Cat.5.