Tropical Storm Debby: South Carolina hit with over a foot of rain as Florida contends with deadly hazards
At least five people are dead amid devastating rain and flooding from Tropical Storm Debby
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Tropical Storm Debby slowed over South Carolina Tuesday, bringing over a foot of rain and heavy flooding to the region as Florida reeled from the deadly after-effects of the storm.
Debby, which was downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane, crossed the Florida-Georgia border late Monday. Green Pond, South Carolina recorded more than 14 inches of rainfall on Tuesday as the storm hovered off the state’s coast.
Meanwhile, tornadoes wreaked havoc on the state. One tornado wiped out power lines and damaged homes on Edisto Beach, while another likely tornado caused damage on Isle of Palms, the South Carolina Daily Gazette reported.
Florida is also reeling from Debby. “Deadly” hazards remained a threat to Sunshine State residents on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. The dangers included downed power lines, continued flooding and heat stroke amid widespread power outages.
Florida officials are also warning residents to properly ventilate rooms with generators to avoid deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
At least five people have been killed by the storm, which is expected to strengthen while hovering off the South Carolina coast on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.
Mapped: Tracking Tropical Storm Debby as it makes landfall in Florida
Tropical Storm Debby could prove just as dangerous as a major hurricane
Tropical Storm Debby is expected to send flooding to the Southeast. Here's how much rain could fall
Thousands of flights disrupted after Storm Debby batters Florida
Video: Tornado passes through South Carolina
Footage shared on X shows a tornado passing through Edisto Island, South Carolina, leaving homes with significant damage.
Biden approves South Carolina emergency declaration
The White House on Monday approved a request from South Carolina to declare an emergency ahead of the imminent arrival of Tropical Storm Debby. Joe Biden previously approved a similar declaration from Florida because of the storm. The White House said in a statement that it is monitoring Debby as it makes its way across Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. “Personnel from the DOD, HHS, US Army Corps of Engineers, and US Coast Guard have deployed and are prepared to support,” it said. “The president continues to urge residents to remain vigilant and heed the warnings of State and local officials.”
Six dead in storm related incidents
Trees felled in the storm killed a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy in Levy County, officials and law enforcement said. A 19-year-old man was killed near Valdosta, Georgia, when a tree fell onto a porch, police said.
Others killed in the storm included a truck driver who lost control of an 18-wheeler on Interstate 75 and went into the Tampa Bypass Canal, and a 38-year-old woman and her 12-year-old son whose SUV crashed in Dixie County north of Tampa in stormy weather, according to law enforcement.
Pumps lower lake levels in Charleston as Debby expected to bring heavy rains
Officials in Charleston, South Carolina, are pumping down water levels in area lakes, ahead of heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby.
You know when the Waffle House is closed, it means bad news
Waffle House, the legendary US breakfast 24-hour chain, is so famous for staying open through all conditions that people joke there’s a Waffle House index ahead of a natural disaster.
When Waffle House is closed, that means it’s bad news.
As Joe Kovac Jr. of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution the Waffle House in Valdosta, Georgia, the soon-to-be center of Tropical Storm Debby, was closed on Monday evening.
Shocking video shows flooded town square in Florida
Much of northern Florida is trying to dry out after Tropical Storm Debby made landfall earlier today.
Waters inundated much of downtown Live Oak, Florida, as captured by meteorologist Elisa Raffa.
‘Major flood threat’ as center of storm sits over Southeastern Georgia
The National Hurricane Center, which is closely tracking Tropical Storm Debby, has said that the center of the storm currently sits over Southeastern Georgia.
On Tuesday morning, it warned of “major flood threats” for the south-east over the coming days as Debby slowly makes its approach to the Atlantic Ocean.
“Deadly hazards remain” in Florida including downed power lines and severe flooding, after the storm ripped through the Sunshine State.
In pictures: Aftermath as Debby churns through Florida and Georgia
Tracking Debby: Where is the tropical storm headed today?
Debby was strengthened to a Category 1 storm on Monday morning as it churned through the Sunshine State, before later being downgraded back to a tropical storm.
The tropical storm pushed slowly north-northeast through the Sunshine State at 10mph, bringing with it as much as 16 inches of rain in central Florida. It approached the Florida-Georgia border late on Monday evening, but where is it heading next?
Myriam Page and James Liddell have been designated The Independent’s weather-watchers and have been tracking the storm.
Mapped: Tracking Tropical Storm Debby as it makes landfall in Florida
At least five people have been killed after the storm made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida, on Monday morning
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments