Several governors have declared emergency declarations in anticipation of Tropical Storm Debby, which is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend region of northwest Florida as a hurricane on Monday morning. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster have all issued emergency declarations for their respective states ahead of the storm’s arrival. DeSantis initially issued an emergency order on Aug. 1 for 54 counties, which was later expanded on Aug. 2 to include seven more counties.
Kemp’s emergency declaration will be effective until Aug. 8 and impacts all 159 counties in Georgia. “As the state prepares for a major storm system early this coming week, we urge all Georgians to take precautions to keep their families and property safe,” Kemp said in a statement on social media.
McMaster also declared an emergency ahead of the storm, although the order did not specify how many of South Carolina’s counties are affected. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has forecasted that the storm is likely to become a Category 1 hurricane before hitting the Big Bend region of Florida on Monday. The storm is expected to strengthen as it moves near the southwestern coast of Florida.
The NHC mentioned that conditions are favorable for the storm to strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico, with warm sea surface temperatures and light shear. Intensification is projected to be slow initially, then accelerate once the storm develops an organized inner core. After impacting Florida as a hurricane, the storm is anticipated to weaken into a tropical storm as it passes through Georgia and South Carolina, eventually becoming a tropical depression by the time it reaches North Carolina, according to the latest NHC forecast.
A hurricane warning has been issued for parts of the Big Bend area and the Florida Panhandle, with tropical storm warnings in effect for Florida’s West Coast, the southern Florida Keys, and Dry Tortugas. A tropical storm watch extends further west into the Panhandle. Officials project that the storm will then move eastward over northern Florida and stall over the coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina, bringing heavy rainfall totaling up to 30 inches starting Tuesday.
President Joe Biden approved DeSantis’s emergency request on Sunday, directing federal resources to the state. Tropical Storm Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season following Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl, and Tropical Storm Chris. Previous hurricanes, such as Idalia and Michael, have caused significant damage in the same region in recent years.
It is essential for residents in the impacted areas to stay informed about the storm’s progress and follow safety guidelines provided by local authorities to ensure their well-being during this challenging weather event.
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