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Michael Leaves Damage Scar 35 Miles Wide

Posted at 7:17 AM, Oct 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-20 08:34:34-04

Michael is long gone but the damage left behind will take months to years to clean up. We’ve seen damage from the ground and air, but the satellite images before and after tell a much different story. Using the visible satellite imagery, we can see just how much damage the states of Florida and Georgia have taken.

Timber Damage Map (Courtesy: State of Florida)

 

Looking at the before image, not much stands out. A lot of green is in place as the trees were still leaved from the warm weather experienced there.

Visible satellite imagery taken before the arrival of Hurricane Michael. Red Arrows show the eventual corridor of the eye wall. (Courtesy: NASA)

 

However, the after image shows the impact of the hurricane force winds felt from the Florida Panhandle to Southwest Georgia. A damage scar from the coast to near Albany, GA can be clearly seen on the after-Michael imagery. The scar is 35 miles wide and 120 miles long. Homes, businesses, timber, and crops were all lost or damaged as the 100+ mph winds swept onshore.

Visible satellite imagery taken after the arrival of Hurricane Michael. Red Arrows show the corridor of damage from the eye wall. (Courtesy: NASA)

 

The price tag for timber damage in the two states will total near $2.3 billion and agriculture will likely run several billion as well.

Timber damage from Hurricane Michael. (Courtesy: Associated Press)

 

Cotton will take a big hit in both states as some fields have been completely destroyed. Other big industry hits will be pecans, poultry, corn, squash, and tomatoes

Cotton crop damage in Georgia (Courtesy: The Weather Channel)