*(Via CNN) – Even those jaded by hurricanes have never seen anything like this.
For the first time, a Category 4 hurricane is on track to slam the Florida Panhandle. And it’s bringing an onslaught of deadly hazards.
“Unfortunately, this is a hurricane of the worst kind,” said Brock Long, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Here’s what makes Hurricane Michael especially dangerous:
The Panhandle could see its strongest hurricane ever
Michael rapidly intensified to a Category 4 hurricane overnight. By Wednesday morning, it was hurling 145-mph winds.
Even scarier, Michael could get stronger before making landfall Wednesday afternoon.
The storm will likely bring “winds that are above typical building codes,” Long said.
Hurricane Andrew in 1992 inspired tougher building codes in Florida. But many older houses aren’t built to withstand a beast like Michael.
“You’re going to see roofs off houses. You’re going to see houses collapsing,” said Ken Graham, director of the National Hurricane Center.
Pine trees could become flying weapons
Florida’s Panhandle is covered with thousands of pine trees. And with winds topping 140 mph, those trees could turn into violent projectiles.
“You get those kinds of winds, it’s catastrophic damage to the trees’ structure,” Graham said.
And with downed trees come power outages.
“This could bring down thousands and thousands of those pine trees here — not only making all the damage along the coast but inland as well,” CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said.
Graham said because this storm is “absolutely overwhelming,” power outages could last weeks.
Storm surges could be deadly
Michael will spawn massive storm surges — or walls of ocean water — as high as 14 feet, forecasters said.
Get MORE Hurricane Michael coverage at CNN.
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