Tropical Storm Debby was moving threateningly toward some of the most historic cities in the southern United States and is expected to cause prolonged rain and flooding throughout Tuesday, after lashing Florida, where hundreds of people had to be rescued from their flooded homes.
Record rainfall from the storm, which killed at least five people, was causing flash flooding and could dump up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) of water in some areas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm was centered over southeastern Georgia early Tuesday, packing maximum sustained winds of nearly 45 mph (75 kph) and moving northeast at about 7 mph (11 kph). The storm’s eye is expected to move away from the Georgia coast later in the day. The storm could strengthen Wednesday and Thursday before making another landfall in South Carolina.
“Take shelter,” Savannah, Georgia, Mayor Van Johnson told residents in a live message on social media Monday night. “It’s going to be a tough day” on Tuesday, he added.
Savannah’s airport received more than 6 inches of rain on Monday, but showers continued overnight and were expected on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.
Flash flood warnings were in effect in Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, among other coastal areas in both states. Both cities announced curfews for early Tuesday.
About 500 people were rescued from flooded homes in Sarasota, Florida, a beach resort town, the Sarasota Police Department said on social media. It was one of the cities hardest hit by flooding on Monday.
“We’ve essentially had twice the amount of rain that we were forecast to get,” Sarasota County Fire Chief David Rathbun said in a social media update.
Slightly north of Sarasota, Manatee County officials said in a news release that 186 people were rescued from floodwaters.
“We are facing an unprecedented weather event with Hurricane Debby,” said Jodie Fiske, director of public safety for Manatee County. “The safety of our residents is our top priority, and we are doing everything in our power to effectively respond to this crisis.”
Debby made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast early Monday as a Category 1 hurricane. It has since weakened to a tropical storm and is moving slowly, covering streets with water and causing at least five deaths.
A truck driver was killed on Interstate 75 in the Tampa metropolitan area after he lost control of his vehicle, which rolled over a concrete wall, became dangling over the edge and the cab fell into the water. Florida Highway Patrol divers located the driver, a 64-year-old Mississippi man, in the cab about 40 feet below the water’s surface, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
A 13-year-old boy died Monday morning after a tree fell on a mobile home in southwest Gainesville, according to the Levy County Sheriff’s Department.
And in Dixie County, east of where the storm made landfall, a 38-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy were killed in a car crash on wet roads Sunday night. The Florida Highway Patrol said another 14-year-old boy who was a passenger was hospitalized with serious injuries.
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