Hurricane Michael: President Trump Declares Disaster In Florida

WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald Trump declared parts of Florida a major disaster area on Thursday, one day after Hurricane Michael delivered unfathomable damage to the Florida Panhandle. The declaration came as Florida Gov. Rick Scott was planning to get a firsthand look at row upon row of collapsed homes, mangled businesses and flood-ravaged streets left behind by Michael. The category 4 storm came crashing into the Florida coast at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday near Mexico Beach with 155 mph winds, side-blowing rain and life-threatening storm surge.

"I’m on my way to conduct an aerial tour of the damage along the Gulf Coast from Michael," Scott said on social media. "I’ll then go to Panama City to survey damage and find out who needs help."

See also: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio: Recovery Will Take Years

The president's declaration, which followed a request by the governor, provides assistance to individuals and households in Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Taylor, and Wakulla Counties. It provides public assistance for emergency work, repair or replacement of disaster-damaged public facilities, including debris removal and emergency protective measures, in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla Counties.

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Governor Scott will be conducting an aerial survey of impacts from Hurricane Michael in Bay County and a ground assessment in Panama City with Florida National Guard troops.

The U.S. Coast Guard also conducted an aerial assessment aboard an HC-130 Hercules airplane Thursday from Air Station Clearwater, Florida to coastal areas near Apalachicola.

"During the flight from Clearwater to Apalachicola, crew members dropped several self-locating datum marker buoys to determine the flow of storm surge," according to the agency, which released photos from the aerial assessment, including the one shown with this story.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson