Hurricane Debby has made landfall Monday in northern Florida as a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (129 kph). The storm hit Steinhatchee, a small community in Florida’s Big Bend area, generating concerns about heavy rain and potential catastrophic flooding in Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia. Debby marks the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
As Debby moves slowly across the northern part of Florida towards the coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina, forecasters warn of record-setting rains and life-threatening storm surges. The storm’s impact is expected to be felt in various states, with the potential for significant flooding and damage.
Residents and businesses are taking precautions and preparing for the storm, securing their belongings and bracing for the impact of Debby. The region is on high alert for the storm’s arrival and the potential for extensive flooding and damage.
I’d rather play it safe than sorry.
DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 61 of Florida’s 67 counties, with the National Guard activating 3,000 guard members. Utility crews from in and out of state were ready to restore power after the storm, he said in a post on X.
In Tampa alone, officials gave out more than 30,000 sandbags to barricade against flooding.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster made their own emergency declarations.
Northeast Coast Also Preparing for Storm Conditions
Emergency managers in New England and New York were monitoring the path of the storm for the possibility of remnants striking their states. Northeast states including New York and Vermont have been hit by heavy rain and thunderstorms in recent weeks and were still coping with flooding and saturated ground.
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