PHOTOS: Hurricane Michael leaves destruction in its wake in the Southeast

Hurricane Michael officially made landfall in Mexico Beach, Florida on Wednesday, bringing historic 155 mile per hour winds.

It's the third strongest storm ever to hit the U.S.

After making landfall as a Category 4, Michael moved north, weakening into a tropical storm. The storm quickly moved through the Carolinas on Thursday, where many areas are still rebuilding from Hurricane Florence.

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In Florida and elsewhere, residents are just beginning to deal with the destruction.

Sally Crown rode out Michael on the Florida Panhandle thinking at first that the worst damage was the many trees downed in her yard. But after the storm passed, she emerged to check on the cafe she manages and discovered a scene of breathtaking destruction.

"It's absolutely horrendous. Catastrophic," Crown said. "There's flooding. Boats on the highway. A house on the highway. Houses that have been there forever are just shattered."

On Good Morning America on Thursday, Florida Governor Rick Scott urged Florida residents to stay inside and take the necessary precautions, even after the winds have died down.

See photos from the massive storm in the gallery above.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.