A satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration taken at 11:11 pm ET shows Hurricane Debby nearing Florida on Sunday, August 4, 2024. AP Photo
Tropical Storm Debby unleashed heavy rain and strong winds on Florida, leading to at least four deaths and necessitating the rescue of hundreds from flooded homes. After hitting Florida, Debby is now moving towards the Eastern Seaboard, posing a flooding threat to historic Southern cities.
The National Hurricane Center reported record-breaking rain, with some areas expecting up to 30 inches. Sarasota, a popular tourist destination, saw about 500 people rescued from flooded homes. Sarasota County Fire Chief David Rathbun said, "We've had twice the predicted rainfall." Manatee County also experienced severe flooding, leading to the rescue of 186 people.
"This is an unprecedented weather event," stated Jodie Fiske, public safety director for Manatee County. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned of ongoing threats as waterways north of the state continue to fill and flow southward. "It's a very saturating, wet storm," he noted.
Debby made landfall on the Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane before weakening to a tropical storm. It has caused at least five deaths. In Tampa, a truck driver died when his tractor-trailer flipped over a concrete wall and fell into the water below. A 13-year-old boy was killed by a falling tree on a mobile home near Gainesville. Additionally, a car crash on wet roads in Dixie County resulted in the deaths of a woman and a 12-year-old boy, with another passenger seriously injured. In Georgia, a 19-year-old man died when a tree fell on a porch in Moultrie.
A BMW sedan is stuck in deep water on southbound US Alt 19 in Tarpon Springs, Florida, on Monday morning, August 5, 2024, as Hurricane Debby moves past the Tampa Bay area. AP Photo
Nearly 200,000 customers in Florida and Georgia were without power, down from a peak of over 350,000. Airports were also affected, with more than 1,600 flights cancelled, mostly to and from Florida.
Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, are preparing for potential flooding. Savannah officials issued a curfew from 10 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday due to the anticipated high water. Charleston has an emergency plan that includes sandbags for residents and open parking garages for cars to avoid floodwaters. The city also announced a curfew starting at 11 p.m.
North Carolina is under a state of emergency after Governor Roy Cooper's declaration. The state’s coastline, including Wilmington and the Outer Banks, is prone to flooding. North and South Carolina have experienced significant floods from tropical systems over the past nine years, causing billions of dollars in damage.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on Debby's progress and approved emergency declarations for Florida and South Carolina. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp requested a preemptive federal emergency declaration to expedite federal aid.
Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, a small community in northern Florida, close to where Hurricane Idalia struck less than a year ago. Sue Chewning, a resident of nearby Cross City, said, "Some people may say, 'I can't take this anymore.' But it's a close-knit community, and most local people will stay, dig down, and help each other."
