HURRICANE MICHAEL BY THE NUMBERS:
- First category four hurricane to make landfall in Florida's Panhandle since record-keeping began in 1851.
- Top winds of 249km/h, strong enough to destroy homes and cause weeks-long power outages.
- 919 millibars minimum pressure in the hurricane's eye, the third most intense hurricane to hit the mainland US in recorded history.
- Storm surge up to 4m forecast for Florida's Panhandle and Big Bend.
- An estimated 500,000 Florida residents had been ordered or urged to seek higher ground before the storm in 20 counties.
- As many as 320,000 people on Florida's Gulf Coast had disregarded mandatory or voluntary evacuation notices.
- By mid-afternoon on Wednesday, 192,000 homes and business customers were already without power in Florida.
- About 6000 people are in 80 shelters in five states, including nearly 1200 who are still in shelters following Hurricane Florence. That number is expected to swell to 20,000 by week's end.
- 190,000 Florida customers and 32,000 Georgia customers without power.
- 1.5 million ready-to-eat meals, 3.75 million litres of water and 40,000 4.5kg bags of ice ready for distribution.
- At least one death has been reported in Gadsden County, Florida, where authorities say a tree crashed through a home and crushed a man.
