Hurricane Michael, the most powerful storm to hit the continental U.S. since 1992, is bringing devastating winds and torrential rain to Florida's Gulf coast
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…
Aram… what's the latest?
Well Mark…. Hurricane Michael crashed into Florida's northwestern Panhandle coast on Wednesday as a Category four storm.
It has now been downgraded to a Category 3, but is still posing a dangerous threat, flooding towns and ripping up tress and roofs.
The worst is yet to come as it is forecast to create a devastating storm surge of more than four meters.
Michael is also packing maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers an hour.
The eye of the hurricane touched land near Mexico Beach, battering the tourist area with heavy rain and powerful winds.
People have been advised to stay indoors if they haven't already evacuated, as debris is flying around in the air outside.
Most of the hundreds of thousands of people told to evacuate have ignored the warnings, thinking they could ride the storm out.
"……….I'm staying. I'm in a Cat 5 building, that can take a Cat 5 (Category 5 hurricane) so that's it. I'm just going to stay close and make sure my stuff is all right and I'm going to make sure these other people's stuff is all right."
Reporter question: "But you never thought about leaving you are just staying put?"
Oaks: "No if it was that same storm coming right in here I'd definitely be gone but it's a good ways to the west of us."
At the White House, President Trump acknowledged Michael would be a "rough one" but said the government is ready for the storm.
