Death Toll Doubles In Florida From Hurricane Michael

TAMPA, FL — The death toll from Hurricane Michael has doubled in Florida, according to updated numbers released Tuesday. A total of 16 people have died from the storm in Florida, which is double the eight deaths previously reported by emergency management officials.

Florida officials announced the state’s updated death toll Tuesday.

Here is a county-by-county breakdown of deaths based on information provided to Patch by the Florida State Emergency Operations Center:

• Clay County, one storm-related death: a 94-year-old woman
• Gadsden County two storm-related deaths: a 44-year-old man and a 71-year-old man
• Bay County, 12 storm-related deaths. Florida emergency management officials were awaiting additional information from the Bay County Medical Examiner on these deaths.
• Gulf County, one Storm Related Death. Florida emergency management officials were awaiting additional information from the Gulf County Medical Examiner on this death.

"Due to difficulties resulting from damage to communication infrastructure, detailed information regarding cause of death is currently unavailable, but will be disseminated as quickly as possible upon receipt by the State Emergency Response Team," said a spokesperson for the Florida State Emergency Operations Center late Tuesday afternoon.

"It is important to note that, in Florida, county medical examiners are responsible for confirming and attributing deaths that occurred in their counties," officials added. "That information is reported to FDLE and, subsequently, in the case of storm-related deaths, to the State Emergency Response Team. This has been the case for all recent Florida storms, disasters and other events unfortunately resulting in attributable deaths."

Bay County took a direct hit from the storm along the Panhandle coast, which explains why the death toll is so much higher than in the other counties.

The Associated Press reported a total of 10 deaths in Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina that have all been attributed to the powerful storm.

Hurricane Michael came ashore last Wedneday near Mexico Beach, Florida as a category 4 storm packing 155 mph winds.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The aftermath of Hurricane Michael is captured by the Central Florida Urban Search and Rescue Team in the Beacon Hill area of Port St. Joe, Gulf County