A drone’s-eye-view of Florida Panhandle desolation after Hurricane Michael | CNN

CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
US
Crime & Justice
Immigration
Education
Transportation
Race & Identity
More
Crime & Justice Immigration Education Transportation Race & Identity
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

Crime & Justice
Immigration
Education
Transportation
Race & Identity

Follow CNN
Download the CNN App

  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Elections 2026
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • World Cup 2026
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Download the CNN App
02 Hurricane Michael DRONE RESTRICTED
Bronte Wittpenn/Tampa Bay Times
U.S.

A drone’s-eye-view of Florida Panhandle desolation after Hurricane Michael

Photographs by Bronte Wittpenn/Tampa Bay Times
Updated 9:18 AM EDT, Tue October 16, 2018
Link Copied!

After Michael, the skies cleared and the Gulf waters calmed once again. But the full extent of the devastation wrought by the Category 4 storm -- the pain, sadness and wreckage -- is only now coming to light.

Tampa Bay Times photographer Bronte Wittpenn sent a camera-equipped drone over the area of Michael's ground zero -- Mexico Beach, Florida -- on Friday, October 12, and Saturday, October 13, to let the world see the damage the hurricane inflicted on the region, its people and their way of life.

A truck passes on a makeshift road in Cape San Blas, Florida, on Saturday, October 13, after the town's main road was demolished during Hurricane Michael.
A truck passes on a makeshift road in Cape San Blas, Florida, on Saturday, October 13, after the town's main road was demolished during Hurricane Michael.
Bronte Wittpenn/Tampa Bay Times
This once was a home. Its post-Michael remains are seen from above on Friday, October 12.
This once was a home. Its post-Michael remains are seen from above on Friday, October 12.
Bronte Wittpenn/Tampa Bay Times
So little is left. Where homes once stood in Mexico Beach, Florida, debris and destruction clutter the landscape on Friday, October 12 -- two days after Hurricane Michael hit.
So little is left. Where homes once stood in Mexico Beach, Florida, debris and destruction clutter the landscape on Friday, October 12 -- two days after Hurricane Michael hit.
Bronte Wittpenn/Tampa Bay Times
Even inland, Michael blasted a path of destruction. Farm silos and a flattened roadside structure are seen near Blounstown, Florida, on Friday, October 12.
Even inland, Michael blasted a path of destruction. Farm silos and a flattened roadside structure are seen near Blounstown, Florida, on Friday, October 12.
Bronte Wittpenn/Tampa Bay Times
Down amid the rubble, searchers comb through a flattened home in Mexico Beach on Friday, October 12.
Down amid the rubble, searchers comb through a flattened home in Mexico Beach on Friday, October 12.
Bronte Wittpenn/Tampa Bay Times
The road that leads into Cape San Blas, Florida, lays broken in the sun on Saturday, October 13, three days after Hurricane Michael roared ashore.
The road that leads into Cape San Blas, Florida, lays broken in the sun on Saturday, October 13, three days after Hurricane Michael roared ashore.
Bronte Wittpenn/Tampa Bay Times
02 Hurricane Michael DRONE RESTRICTED
Bronte Wittpenn/Tampa Bay Times
02 Hurricane Michael DRONE RESTRICTED
Bronte Wittpenn/Tampa Bay Times

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Elections 2026
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • World Cup 2026
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Headlines
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

US
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account
Follow CNN

Download the CNN app
Download the CNN app

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts Sitemap

© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from Google Play.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.