I live in Panama City, and I stayed because we weren't in an evacuation zone. They told us it was a cat 3. I've lived in Florida my whole life, so I've been through several cat 3 hurricanes. It comes with the territory, if you live in Florida you're eventually gonna see a hurricane. The problem was that by the time they told us it was a high 4, almost a 5 it was too late to leave.

These things never look as bad on a video as they do when you’re actually seeing them in person . I’ve been through a few and even a cat 2 or 3 will hv you praying and begging to get through it

To add insult to injury, at 3:35 it looked like the hurricane was a neighbor throwing trash over the fence into your yard.

I live a mile from this location and we rode it out just like most people here. I remember watching tv and this storm became a monster at the last minute 40 miles from land fall 155 mph winds, by this time it was to late. It toke us 2 days to cut our way out of our neighbor hood. One of my neighbors was one of the first to die in this storm he was an older man and suffered a heart attack when a 50 ft pine tree crushed his house. It then had taken 4 days before they could remove his body from his house. It was like a bad dream for the first 2 weeks after the storm. And it’s been over 2 months since this monster destroyed our area and it still looks like a nuclear bomb had been dropped on us.

Wow, Joey! Thanks for this! Great to meet you - and, of course for the info you collect to keep us safe.

I live in panama city fl and all i can say from a 1st hand account is, never underestimate a storm

I'm glad you all made it through OK. I think you're going to be telling this story to your grandchildren. I've been through a bunch of hurricanes in my 55 years but this one was just monsterous. Me and my parents rode it out because we thought it was going to be a low end cat 4. They just upgraded it to Cat 5. I'm happy we made it out alive and with a house intact, more or less. Many weren't so blessed. Thank you for recording your experience. I hope you have a long career in meteorology

Holy shit. That firestone building. Shows it's not a good idea to take shelter in a sheet metal shop that's built like a big carport. Damn that's bad

I grew up in tornado alley and now live in NC about 3 hours inland. Hugo was my first in 89, was at my grandparents. That was my first experience and it was a cat 1 when it hit Charlotte. Floyd was a nightmare in 99. Isabel was a cat 3 at landfall, but remember that one. Matthew in 2016 flooded areas an hour away in 2 directions. We lost power for 28 hours. Flash forward to 2018 and Florence. She topped Floyd. 22” almost in my area, I’m inland. 4 days of constant rain and we thought day 3 was the worst, not even close. 10” on the last day and severe weather on the backside of the storm. Same areas heavily flooded by Matthew got it again. Then Michael a month later....5” from him but the saving grace it moved quickly. I hate to think if Florence would’ve been a 4 how bad it would’ve been.

My family and I live in Callaway, Florida, and we never seen this type of Destruction. This town needs this to stay in the news for as long as possible. Our community is completely annihilated. People don't have homes or jobs to get back to. The last 4 weeks has been like living in a war zone. A lot of people need this help this to this area to stay in this area. I fear that wants to MEDIA leaves, all of this attention and help will go with it. It's going to take many, many years for this town to rebuild. We are still trying to locate all our friends. We had a ton of damage but my community and my neighbors suffered the most. Please as you watch these videos, addisu your prayer. I know people are talking good and trying to keep everyone spirits up but everyone is still suffering from such a traumatic and devastating hurricane. My family and I completely underestimated the storm. The last we had even bothered to check on it was early that morning when it was like a category 2. We have lived through many hurricanes and that's why so many people stayed. It was not a dumb decision for people to stay.

You mean to tell me you actually headed down there to "experience" your first major hurricane - Michael??! I got caught down there in a deadly hurricane, but not by MY own choosing. The hurricane was called Camille - back in 1969 (and I was 16). It was horrific & terrifying, & many people died in it. I have never been more frightened in my life. So now, if there are hurricane warnings in Florida, you couldn't pay me to head down there. No way.

I live in Panama City beach, I evacuated and when I came back it looked like a complete war zone

Some of the best footage I've seen. I live over in Orange Beach I remember watching Michael staying up watching the news waiting for it to turn NEast it was perfectly due south of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores about 3am and it finally started to turn East. I've heard Panama City is still recovering.

This is terrifying. I live in the UK and I get excited when a thunderstorm comes.😂

(Looks out of front door)... "Honey, the house has gone".... "Hell, Honey... The *TOWN* has gone!"

How is he so brave enough to stand there? The closest I will go is the door and I’m typing this as I watch the video and I’m TERRIFIED!

That was incredible ....You only had a couple days warning Until this came roaring ashore . I've been a hurricane chaser from home for 15 + years. That was definitely the strongest storm I've ever seen hit Since I Was not Watching Camille in 69 or Andrew in 92

15:04 Can't tell me that not a Cat 5. Holy shit.

Imagine if it was just wind blowing that hard in a sandy area. It would literally sand blast the paint and any thing soft down to bare metal. That's some serious power they have

Extraordinary storm, fascinating to see the before, during and after. Shot with composure, thank you for sharing.

Probably the best Hurricane Michael video I’ve seen so far. I know that area very well near the Panama City Mall. Thanks for sharing.

I rode this storm out in Lynn Haven. By the time we found out how strong it was, it was too late to fet out. We were very blessed. Never again will I stay for a storm.

I live 5 miles due north across the bay from Mexico beach and TAFB. My home was a slab. Nothing. Sitting here in a converted cargo trailer. Home not rebuilt yet watching this and one eye on Dorian. I hope loss of life will be minimal but what I am seeing with Dorian , I fear fifty to a hundred thousand will perish in the Bahamas as we speak. It is landfalling now. Will be the deadliest storm in history. 1:41 CDT 9/1/2019 Prayers.

Crazy to be that close to a window with the amount of debris flying around.

This is really terrifying. I live by arctic circle in north Sweden and im happy if we get a thunderstorm! Vertical waterfall fk this... Amazing footage!

DAAAAAMMMNN!!! I'm never moving to Florida! Great video, guys! I'm glad you're ok. It surprises me to hear birds chirping afterward. How do they survive such insane winds? We are so small when it comes to the power of nature.

I love mother nature, I chased Hurricanes for FEMA from 2000 to 2008 nothing is more exciting and terrifying then a Hurricane!

Who’s here because of hurricane Dorian??

I really liked how you kept showing the map during the video. Really cool.

Hurracunn's are badass. I was in Hugo in NC, it looked like an atomic bomb, and the rain came like a curtain you could clearly see the wall of rain coming with the edge of the storm.

3:35. I think the neighbor has a small leak in their roof. Lol

Look how beautiful and peaceful it is in the first minute before everything started to change. So sad. They are strong 💪 and they will rebuild better and more beautiful then ever. God Bless. We are behind you. #StayStrongPanamaCity

You must have seen the train flip also... very scary storm.. thankfully all my family survived glad you did too thanks for vid!!!!

They claim this is a cat 4. I disagree. The winds were magically reported as 150mph right below low end cat 5 at 155mph. This damage is cat 5 level. Terrible storm. Glad you all made it ok

Went 20 days without power, a bag of ice was worth its weight in gold! One of the biggest challenges of my life. I'm still displaced while tied up in litigation to get my insurance pay out for my house. I'm one of many in this situation, still!

So happy to gave survived this. I see these youtube videos and im like i can not believe we even survived!

Firestone can't ever catch a break. Even their buildings blow out. 😂😂😂

I'm going through hurricane Dorian so... just seeing what the worst case scenario looks like

It’s amazing y’all walked out thanks for getting the footage

The beginning of the video is very relaxing

Native floridian, I saw it coming by cuba and I thought this one looks like trouble. It is rare for a storm, once organized and looking like it can stand a beating, to enter the gulf like that and not seriously intensify. Forget the shear forecast, it's making its own weather now, it can fight. Gulf water is deep too, and warm. I said the same thing after harvey crossed mexico, that this one needs extra watching. I appreciate models, but instinct right? Worth something. Thank you for the video. Glad you are okay.

ALways amazed with all of the cars out on the road after a major storm - I would be afraid of getting low on gas and it being a long ways away to a gas station.

Been through outer fringes of David (79) Andrew (from Broward county thank God it wobbled) Brushed by some big ones (Floyd, Mathew, Irma ) Ground Zero for Frances and Gene (east Central Florida) Charlie, Wilma etc... Chased surf for 2 decades, study these things for surf , have a very firm grasp of what reality is when these strike.... And it always never does it justice on the fury, danger, power and destruction your left with after one. I thought 20 hrs was bad in a cat 2 Let alone 40 hrs of Dorian or 10 hrs of a Michael...a truly mesmorizing phenomenon of power. Great coverage guy's , you can never underestimate these once in the high 3 & up categories of strength.

Someone’s trunk is full of water

I live in Ireland and the closest storm I can relate to this is ophiela which was only a cat 1 when hitting , 3 people died and 385,000 people where without power, it's bad for us anyway , we often get wind storms in winter but with generally gusts of between 60 and 80 mph

I was in the hurricane, the air force base caught the winds as a cat 5 not 4. They just dont admit it's a 5 because the insurance companies would have to give us more hurricane damage money

That sky you showed before the storm itself, more than a scary, threatening layer of cloud. It looked awesome.

I have wondered about where do all of the Birds go to take cover during Hurricanes

As bad as the damage was over in that part of town, it was even worse in Callaway, Parker, and Mexico beach :(

This is amazing footage

I've been through hurricane Ike and hurricane Harvey. I never want to experience that ever again. I've never felt so fearful and helpless in my life.

Ive rode out 2 hurricanes in my life and I can tell ya in person this wind sounds 10000x more frightening.

That La Quinta inn looked just like the hotels do after memorial day weekend in Myrtle Beach

This made landfall ~90 miles from where I live....far enough to not worry, but close enough to make me a lil nervous

Omg this was the worst day of my life I thought I was gonna die

I'm here because of hurricane dorian

There is so much wind and rain it almost looks and SOUNDS like a blizzard.

At 14:13, that destroyed building was Po Folks Restaurant. I lived 2 blocks away from that restaurant.

When I was stationed at Tyndall AFB, we had to evacuate for several hurricanes.

Many think that it hit you guys as a cat.5. it was reportedly only 3 mph from being one, and I think that it probably was a 5. It was still a low cat 4 when it hit us, 50 miles inland.

Who's here because its going to be 1 year since hurricane Michael

My home town! We all knew it was a cat 5. Now they are admitting it. About time.

I used to live in St. Andrews, down by the marina there - everything is gone, and I'm heartbroken that Panama City, and the outlaying areas have received no help, along with Mexico Beach.

The lesson to be learned from all of this is,,,when a major hurricane is approaching,,,the ,,"La Quinta",may not be your best choice for shelter,,,,

@6:50 goddamn The sound alone dude I can’t imagine

We moved from Panama City Beach in August of 18'. Lucky move on our part. Former neighbors said it was pretty bad... the people who bought our house lost the entire roof.

I have been told the touch of that rushing wind is like needles touching your skin. Scary

Michael has been updated to a category 5 it has made landfall with 160mph

I wanted to chase this hurricane so bad. But I couldn't take days off at work

Im here because of both. I just watched Dorian but was in Micheal only two blocks away from where this is being shot. Im still crying because of knowing all those who have died during and after were murdered. These both were man made and have taken every single life that they hit. Nothing will ever be ok for any of us. They are killing us all. And no body is standing up to stop it

I REALLY SAW SOME FANTASTIC FOOTAGE OF MICHAEL ON.MY PHONE WHEN THE WIND WAS BLOWING AND YOU COULD NOT SEE IN FRONT OF YOU WITH THE WIND AND WATER IT SCARED ME AND I WASNTTHERE...

My Boss: CAT 5 MY ASS, IVE DONE ROOFING IN EM! You WILL be at work tomorrow, got it!?!?

Thanks to Dorian this guy is a youtuber now 😂😂😂

I moved my family to Ft Lauderdale years ago. We only lasted three months. Being from central GA, I was not used to such weather conditions. I don’t know how my granddaddy and his family lasted this long. I’m afraid of thunderstorms much less hurricanes.continuous prayers of protection of you all and your families.

This was one mile from house. We rode it out. I built my house to take a Cat 4 and it survived. But this was no cat 4 it was a cat 5. Tyndall AFB weather station recorded winds at 167mph and gust of 201 when it was destroyed

800th like... Great footage, terrible disaster!!

Ever pictured or wondered how far the wind would just toss you if you were out there and just jumped in the air during the climax of the wind speeds.

if this storm was heading into the U.K. I’d be excited and fearful at the same time. I can’t believe the power of it. It looks absolutely insane. We are familiar with hurricane force gusts during some of our storms but these gusts are on another level. It looks almost like your in a tornado at times.

Never been through a hurricane but looks scary !

Of all the visitors I have seen of Michael, this was the beat at showing the taw power during the storm.

Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah

00:36 this is normal during full moons or when wind is from the north, it always floods there on the boat ramp at the college

Great Video...Stay safe🙏🏻God Bless.

I'd like to know the truth about Hurricane Ivan's true category in N.W. Florida, because it literally roared from 10pm to 8am and Dennis 10 months later, not that it roared but the eyewall was outrageously intense, both of them. They destroyed us.

Water does get everywhere, everything after a hurricane is filthy with dirt and debris

Was near the ending recorded in saint Andrews?? I recognized one of the buildings that have a unique look to it

And come Autumn, Florida's all like "Oh clear off, *another* category five?" *_*tut*_* "Here we go again. Bloody weather. Hmph"

Is that spray all rain? Or is it mixed with sea water?

wow that Cat 4 hurricane is scary,would not want to be in it.

That must be a damn strong house

Imagine 200 mph winds

Fascinating and yet devastatingly terrifying Wow 🕊🕊🕊

I wish i was there just love stormy weather

I live in Panama City. Everything I ever knew (since I moved here) Was destroyed.

Went to PCB for a fall break and all I got was a fracking hurricane! OK a 35 mile wide EF-3 to EF-4 Tornado! It's over a year later and people are still getting lost without the tree canopies.

Great footage. Close to tornadic/Andrew level damage.

This is hell !

That is so crazy! Unless the video was taken from different sides of room or bldg, you can see the wind shift directions..start of video is blows to the left and half way through it's blowing in other direction

all the best will come to you ❤

Michael a very bad boy.