Cloudy with a Chance of Podcast: Seeing devastation first-hand

Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle when it made landfall as a strong Category 4 hurricane. It moved over the Panhandle October 10, right over Mexico Beach, Fla.

It was the first Category 4 hurricane ever to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle, and ended up the third-strongest in the United States based on pressure. Storm surge between Mexico Beach and Apalachee Bay rose between 9 and 14 feet above ground.

Tyndall Air Force Base, located in the eyewall, picked up winds at 129 mph. The storm slowly moved through Georgia, the Carolinas and parts of Virginia, bringing rain, strong winds and even severe weather. Seventeen tornadoes were confirmed from Florida to Virginia.

Bryan Wood, a storm analyst and meteorologist with Assurant, was sent to survey damage and aid his clients. Wood was sent right to Mexico Beach where he says the sights, sounds and stories of generosity are something that he will carry with him forever.

An interesting part of assessing the damage was looking at homes and building codes. Wood explains why some homes withstood the storm, and shares stories from some of the locals he met.

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