The storm made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida. The community, home to just over 1,000 people, was "wiped out," according to FEMA. So far, the death toll has reached 18 people in four states, according to a CNN report, with at least 30 more still missing from demolished Mexico Beach. CNN also reported that as of Sunday, more than 435,000 customers are still without power in seven states from Florida to Virginia.
On the agriculture front, Michael mostly missed the high-cattle-producing areas of Florida and Georgia, but row crops have been hit hard. "Michael's impact has been the most widespread and devastating hurricane in recollection to impact Georgia's agriculture industry," said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black during a press briefing. "Crops, animals and infrastructure have all taken a substantial loss."
When the storm swept through the Florida Panhandle and up through southern Georgia, it ravaged a lot of cropland on the verge of being ready to harvest. Pecan groves have been flooded or blown down and cotton fields have been flooded, causing widespread distress over what the future holds for producers who are forced to declare a total loss on their crops. According to the University of Georgia Extension, early estimates suggest that Georgia has lost at least 40 to 50 percent of its pecan crop, and it is too early to tell how much of the state’s cotton crop has been lost or how much damage the other ag sectors have sustained.
The storm is not done yet. According to experts, Michael, now a tropical storm with winds of 50 miles per hour, is expected to gain strength as it passes into Virginia and moves into the western Atlantic Ocean overnight, bringing damaging winds and life-threatening flash flooding over parts of North Carolina and Virginia.
President Trump and the first lady arrived in Florida yesterday to assess the damage and visit with first responders, law enforcement and FEMA workers. 
-
Carrie Veselka
- Associate Editor
- Progressive Cattleman
- Email Carrie Veselka
