Florida Panhandle boarding up for hurricane Michael

Residents in Panama City, Florida are boarding up coastal properties as Hurricane Michael approaches with increased intensity.

A state of emergency has been declared in several dozen counties along Florida's Panhandle and Big Bend regions.

Forecasters expect Michael to be the strongest storm to hit the area in more than a decade.

Officials urged residents to heed evacuation orders, particularly in coastal areas where some mandatory evacuations are already under way.