*By Carlo Versano*
Tropical Storm Michael moved rapidly northeast over Georgia and the Carolinas on Thursday after coming ashore as an unprecedented Category 4 on the Florida Panhandle a day earlier and doing severe damage to coastal cities like Panama Beach.
But the biggest fears of potentially catastrophic storm surge did not appear to have been realized. Sarah Rosario, a reporter for the local CBS affiliate in St. Petersburg, Fla., told Cheddar from Crystal River that the waters there had receded, and "things are looking much better."
Up north on the panhandle, though, the damage was more severe. At least two people are dead and hundreds of thousands remain without power after Michael made a direct hit on the region. "This is the biggest storm that area has seen ever," Rosario noted. "It came out of nowhere."
The focus now turns to flooding in the southeast, where the ground remains saturated with rainwater from last month's Hurricane Florence. Michael is expected to quickly move north toward Virginia before exiting back into the Atlantic as a post-tropical system.
Michael is the [fourth](https://twitter.com/chrisdolcewx/status/1050348660339412992) Category 4 storm to hit the U.S. in 14 months.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/hurricane-michael-hits-florida).
Ben Zoffness, founder of Zoffness College Prep, shares some creative tips to keep kids' minds on learning during winter break.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced on Friday it will return 16 ancient items to Cambodia and Thailand.
Actor and chef David Burtka tells us about the best part of the holiday season with husband Neil Patrick Harris and their family. Plus: a very special jam collaboration between the couple and Beth's Farm Kitchen that will benefit City Harvest.
Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick, president of The Etiquette School of New York, shares some tipping tips so that you don't come off as a Scrooge.
Sam Raimondi shows you how to make a beautiful rustic wreath for the holiday season.
Marissa Silva, editor-in-chief of The Toy Insider, joined Cheddar News to provide gift ideas for your furry loved ones ahead of the holidays.
Musicals have been tough sells in theaters in recent years, so much so that Warner Bros. downplayed the song and dance elements of “Wonka” in trailers. Instead, the studio emphasized Chalamet, the 27-year-old actor.
Barbara Streisand will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at next year's SAG Awards.
Cher opened up to Kelly Clarkson about being excluded from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Nicki Minaj revealed that she turned down a request from Kanye West to clear her verse so he could release her collaboration.
