Hurricane Michael hits Florida; residents move to shelter

Hurricane Michael - a category four storm - made landfall in Florida. The hurricane rapidly evolved from a tropical depression, reaching winds of 240km/h. Some regions of Florida will experience storm surges and flash floods are expected in torrential rain.

The President of United States, Donald Trump gave an update on the hurricane and the steps taken by the authorities to ensure safety of people.

Donald Trump, President of the United States of America: "I want to give an update on the really devastating storm bearing down on Florida. It's moving rapidly and it's at a very high level. Some are saying it's one of the biggest storms ever to hit our country. It built very rapidly, very quickly and I've just concluded a briefing with Secretary of Homeland Security and the administrator of FEMA and we are watching Hurricane Michael. It's just hitting shore now. Winds are going up to close to 200 miles an hour, you don't hear about that. Category 4, you don't hear about that. This is the most powerful recorded storm to strike the Florida Panhandle ever."

Donald Trump, President of the United States of America: "Federal resources are on the ground at every level and so we are absolutely ready. It's a top priority and the single top priority is the saving of life. We have moved a lot of people off the area and out of the path of the storm but people remain. Some people just don't want to go. And we have no choice but to let them stay. It's going to be a big one. The winds are going to be so tremendous. This will be a lot of water but this will be tremendous wind and a lot of those houses aren't built for winds like that. We haven't seen winds like that."

Authorities have urged local residents to evacuate or take shelter.

Lesley Moore, local teacher: "I have lived here all my life. So I don't typically get real concerned about storms, but this one looks pretty impressive. We live at a house with tens of trees, and I wasn't taking any chances. So we do have some anxiety about this particular storm otherwise we wouldn't be here."

Brandon Nickels, retired: "They're doing everything they can, but I don't think they were prepared for what was, it was, for this. But, I mean for Category 1 or 2, they might have been prepared for that, but I don't thing they can prepared for 4 or 5."

Kevin, State of Florida worker: "I had to [bring my dog]. I don't want to leave my pet stranded. So and this place is pet-friendly, you can bring your dog so. So that's one of the reasons why [I'm here]."

Justin Diller, education worker: "Well, my concerns are for the people that are willing to sit it out in their homes or maybe in other, I can't think of the word right now, trailers, in trailers thinking they can wait it out. And I think they need to seek shelter where they can before it comes here, because once rains and other things come in, it's going to be difficult to seek safer ground."

It is the third strongest storm to come ashore in the continental United States and the strongest October hurricane since records began.