Rescue officials losing hope in Florida as search efforts continue

The hunt for missingpeople in the aftermath of Michaelisturning into a search for the dead.

Hope that more people will be found alive is fading in the Florida Panhandle, according to U.S. officials.Authorities say there is little doubt the death toll will rise.

"We're going into recovery mode, unfortunately," said fireChief Alex Baird of Panama City, one of the coastal Florida communities clobbered by the hurricane that made landfallWednesday as a Category 4 storm, packing more than 225 km/h windsand deadly storm surges.

"We hope that we'll find more [survivors], but it's more andmore doubtful."

The death toll of the storm reached at least 18 Saturdaynight and is expected to rise in the U.S. Southeast as rescuersgo door-to-door in coastal communities in Florida, Georgia andthe Carolinas.

See drone footage of the destruction caused by Hurricane Michael

See drone footage of the destruction caused by Hurricane Michael

6 years ago

Duration 0:45

Drone footage captures destruction wrought by Hurricane Michael on the Florida town of Mexico Beach, where buildings were reduced to piles of rubble, while roofs, cars and even boats were strewn about the formerly tranquil beach town.

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit both Florida andGeorgia on Mondayto inspect the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Michael.

He will be accompanied by first ladyMelaniaTrump. The White House isn't identifying areas the president will visit.

Rescuers hampered by power outages

Search and rescue volunteers have already located hundredsof people reported missing last week.

On Saturday, rescue crews heard cries for help andcrowbarred into a mobile home crumpled by the storm in Panama City, freeing a mother and daughter, both diabetics who had beentrapped in a closet without insulin for two days and were on theverge of diabetic shock, rescuers said.

Rescue teams usedcadaver dogs, drones and heavy equipment to searchfor people inthe rubble.

The WhiteHouse said late Saturday that Trump was fully committed tohelping state and local agencies with the recovery.

At a campaign rally Saturday in Kentucky, Trump praised individuals involved in the massive recovery effort and pledged that "we will not rest until the job is done."

More than 1,700 search-and-rescue workers have been deployed,including seven swift-water rescue teams and nearly 300ambulances, Florida Gov.Rick Scott's office said.

Electricity and phone service were being slowly restored,but it could be weeks before power is restored to the most
damaged areas.

Trump toured parts of the Carolinas last month after Hurricane Florence.

With files from The Associated Press