Trump on hurricane damage: 'Nobody's ever seen anything like this'

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, talk to a Lynn Haven, Florida, resident as they tour a neighbourhood affected by Hurricane Michael. Photos / AP

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are touring parts of Florida and Georgia that have been devastated by Hurricane Michael, as hundreds of thousands of residents remain without electricity and a long, slow recovery effort is underway.

At a FEMA aid distribution centre in Lynn Haven, Florida, before handing out water bottles alongside his wife, the President described the damage caused by the storm that killed more than a dozen people after it made landfall last week.

"These are massive trees that have been just ripped out of the earth," Trump said. "We've seen mostly water. And water can be very damaging, and scary, when you see water rising 14 or 15 feet. But nobody's ever seen anything like this. This is really incredible."

Trump noted that "we're doing more than has probably ever been done," and as he introduced himself to a police officer, said: "In 30 days, you will not recognise this place."

Trump and the first lady arrived earlier at Eglin Air Force Base in Okaloosa County, Florida, and were en route to Warner Robins, Georgia. They were greeted by Republican Governor Rick Scott, FEMA Administrator William "Brock" Long, Congressman Matt Gaetz, (R), and other officials.

"Rick Scott, your governor, has done an incredible job, and all of your people have been amazing - working with FEMA, working with the first responders, and always law enforcement," Trump said before boarding a helicopter to survey the storm-damaged areas. He noted that the storm was so strong that some residents' homes had been entirely washed away.

"Some of them have no trace of a home. You wouldn't even know it," Trump said, adding that the government's priority was to provide food, power and safety to those affected.

Scott thanked Trump, who he said had "come through and done exactly what he said he was going to do."

The Trumps then flew over devastated parts of Mexico Beach and Panama City, Florida. Mexico Beach is a tiny town that was nearly swept away by the storm; the President's helicopter route took him over the debris-filled scene, which included thousands of uprooted trees, a toppled water tower and homes torn loose from their foundations. The route also took him near Tyndall Air Force Base, which was damaged by the storm.

The Trumps saw hurricane damage in Lynn Haven, Florida.

After the helicopter tour, the President, first lady, Scott and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen surveyed a street of damaged homes in nearby Lynn Haven. President Trump shook hands and chatted with residents; he was accompanied by the mayor of Lynn Haven, Margo Anderson.

Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category four storm, tearing through parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. The storm has killed at least 18 people, a number that officials say is likely to rise as emergency crews work to reach some of the hardest-hit areas.

Scott noted yesterday as he toured the area for a third day with Long that "one of the most frustrating problems is telecommunications."

Since Thursday, 17,000 utility workers have arrived to rebuild and repair the crippled infrastructure, and 2000 cellphone company workers and 18,000 search-and-rescue personnel have arrived in the region, joining 4000 Florida National Guard troops and multitudes of police and firefighters.