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As it happenedended

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

Katie Hawkinson,Stuti Mishra,James Liddell
Tuesday 06 August 2024 22:41 BST
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Tropical Storm Debby forecast

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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.

Debby to drift in ‘slow motion’ offshore of Georgia coast later today

Tropical Storm Debby is expected to drift offshore Georgia’s coastline later on Tuesday, the National Hurricane said in an 8am ET update.

It is continuing to move northeast in “slow motion” at 6mph, it added. Debby is predicted to drift back inland over South Carolina on Thursday.

James Liddell6 August 2024 13:30

Watch: Savannah schools close in wake of devastating Tropical Storm Debby

Savannah schools close for Debby
James Liddell6 August 2024 13:50

Savannah mayor ‘terrified’ of ‘unprecedented’ tropical storm

Savannah’s mayor Van Johnson said that he was “terrified” ahead of Georgia’s coastal city bracing for Tropical Storm Debby’s torrential conditions on Monday evening.

“We plan for a once-in-a-century storm, we don’t plan for a once-in-a-millennium type storm, and that’s where we are right now,” Johnson told CNN.

The storm approached the Florida-Georgia border late on Monday evening, and is expected to continue drifting towards coastal Georgia and South Carolina throughout the week before making its way to the Atlantic Ocean.

James Liddell6 August 2024 14:10

At least five dead from Tropical Storm Debby

At least five people have been killed by Tropical Storm Debby as it blows through the southeast.

A 64-year-old truck driver died when his vehicle flipped over in Florida amid heavy rain. The driver lost control on Florida’s I-75, local outlet Fox 13 reports.

In Dixie County, Florida, a 38-year-old woman and 12-year-old boy also died when their car crashed into a guardrail on Sunday night, just ahead of Debby making landfall, local outlet WCTV reports.

A 13-year-old boy also died in Fanning Springs, Florida after a tree crashed into his mobile home on Monday morning. That same day, a 19-year-old in Moultrie, Georgia, died on when a tree fell onto his home.

Katie Hawkinson6 August 2024 14:45

Mapped: Tracking Tropical Storm Debby as it charts path through southeast US

Tropical Storm Debby has left at least five people dead after it made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane along Florida’s Big Bend coast on Monday morning, before charting a path through parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

The storm continues to drift through southern Georgia and eastern South Carolina as of Tuesday after crossing the Florida-Georgia border on Monday evening.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has urged both states to prepare for “catastrophic flooding,” in an update on Tuesday morning. Deadly hazards remain in Florida including downed power lines and severe flooding, the NHC added.

Read more:

Mapped: Tracking Tropical Storm Debby as it charts path through southeast US

At least five people have been killed as the storm crossed the Florida-Georgia border and continues to drift through Georgia and South Carolina on Tuesday

Myriam Page, James Liddell6 August 2024 15:19

Tropical Storm Debby is expected to send flooding to the Southeast. Here’s how much rain could fall

Northern Florida, the coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina and parts of North Carolina are bracing for severe rain and catastrophic flooding this week as the Debby storm system moves up and east.

Debby made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane on the Big Bend coast of Florida early Monday, first hitting the small community of Steinhatchee. It damaged homes and businesses, sent floodwaters rising, caused sweeping power outages across the state and Georgia and led to several fatalities. Debby was downgraded to a tropical storm midday Monday.

But experts say the worst is yet to come as the storm system is expected to stall over the Southeast region.

Read more:

Tropical Storm Debby is expected to send flooding to the Southeast. Here's how much rain could fall

A look at why Debby could cause historic rainfall and flooding in parts of the Southeast, including Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina

Associated Press6 August 2024 15:37

Watch live: Florida officials speak to residents after Debby devastated the state

Katie Hawkinson6 August 2024 15:44

Tropical Storm Debby washes $1m haul of cocaine onto beach in Florida Keys

Tropical Storm Debby has washed up a haul of cocaine worth an estimated $1m onto a beach in the Florida Keys.

A spokesperson from the Customs and Border Protection confirmed to The Independent that 25 packages of the narcotic were discovered in Islamorada, Monroe County, by a good samaritan.

The drugs were allegedly blown onto the beach as Debby made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday, causing at least five deaths and widespread damage across the region before charting a path across the southeastern states.

Read more:

Tropical Storm Debby washes $1m haul of cocaine onto beach in Florida Keys

Hurricane-force winds blew 25 packages of the Schedule II narcotic onto shore in Monroe County

James Liddell6 August 2024 15:50

Kamala Harris delays North Carolina rally with new running mate Tim Walz due to Debby

Kamala Harris has postponed a Raleigh, North Carolina campaign rally with her newly-announced running mate, Tim Walz, local outlet ABC 11 reports.

The delay comes as Tropical Storm Debby threatens the state with significant flash flooding and potentially historic rain levels, per the National Weather Service.

Donald Trump’s campaign has since announced vice presidential candidate JD Vance will make an appearance in the state capital on Thursday, the same day Harris and Walz were scheduled to speak.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (left) greets Kamala Harris (right). The vice president announced Walz as her running mate on Tuesday morning
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (left) greets Kamala Harris (right). The vice president announced Walz as her running mate on Tuesday morning (AFP via Getty Images)
Katie Hawkinson6 August 2024 16:03

In pictures: Savannah, Georgia endures Tropical Storm Debby

Tropical Storm Debby crossed the Florida-Georgia border late Monday, bringing heavy rain and flooding to the Peach State.

Savannah, Georgia Mayor Van Johnson said that he was “terrified” of Tropical Storm Debby’s impacts on the state.

More than 17,000 customers are without power in Georgia and at least one person has been killed in the state, bringing Debby’s death toll to at least five.

An electrical worker fixes a street lamp in Savannah, Georgia on Tuesday as Debby knocks out power to more than 17,000 people in the state
An electrical worker fixes a street lamp in Savannah, Georgia on Tuesday as Debby knocks out power to more than 17,000 people in the state (EPA)
Two Savannah, Georgia residents walk their dogs as rain from Tropical Storm Debby pelts their state
Two Savannah, Georgia residents walk their dogs as rain from Tropical Storm Debby pelts their state (EPA)
Sandbags protect a door in Savannah, Georgia as Tropical Storm Debby brings flash floods and heavy rain
Sandbags protect a door in Savannah, Georgia as Tropical Storm Debby brings flash floods and heavy rain (Getty Images)
Katie Hawkinson6 August 2024 16:20

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