Carl Upton, with Vicksburg Video, inspects the damage done to utility wires after a tree fell following strong storms that moved through the area, in Vicksburg, Miss., on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. (Courtland Wells/The Vicksburg Post via AP)BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – At least two people were dead after powerful storms blew through the Gulf Coast region Thursday, jangling the nerves of people whose lives were ripped apart by Hurricane Michael less than a month ago.
Storms covered a wide area of the country reaching from beaches to the Great Lakes, but howling wind and driving rain threw a particular scare into the Florida Panhandle, which is still reeling from Michael.
Disaster centers helping with the hurricane recovery closed ahead of the storms, and authorities worried that winds gusting up to 60 mph could topple trees or limbs weakened by the Category 4 hurricane. Hundreds of homes protected only by flimsy tarps were particularly vulnerable.
No serious problems were reported, at least initially, and Mayor Margo Anderson of hard-hit Lynn Haven, Florida, said residents have had enough bad weather for a while.
“I think people are not wanting to see more wind and rain,” she said. “It puts everyone on edge. It’s frightening.”