Tropical Storm Debby Triggers Massive Flood Threat with Relentless Rain in the Southeast US

HORSESHOE BEACH, Fla. — At least five people lost their lives Monday as Tropical Storm Debby made landfall, described by officials as a “historic and potentially unprecedented event.”

The storm, which hit the Gulf Coast of Florida early Monday, weakened to a tropical storm but continued to drench parts of the Southern United States. Record-setting rainfall was the cause of dire flash flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center.

“Hunker down,” urged Van Johnson, the mayor of Savannah, Georgia, during a livestream Monday night. He warned residents of a treacherous Tuesday ahead.

Flash flood warnings spanned Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina. Both cities, among other coastal areas, implemented curfews from Monday night into Tuesday.

Charleston County Interim Emergency Director Ben Webster labeled Debby as a “historic and potentially unprecedented event” multiple times during a briefing.

Charleston’s emergency measures included distributing sandbags, opening parking garages for residents to safeguard their vehicles, and providing an online mapping system for closed roads.

Meanwhile, in Edisto Beach, South Carolina, a tornado caused damage to trees, homes, and power lines. No injuries were reported, but recovery operations were underway.

Tornado warnings continued sporadically throughout the state well into Monday night.

The significant impact of Debby was acutely felt in Sarasota, Florida, where 500 people were rescued from flooded homes. Social media posts by the Sarasota Police Department documented the magnitude of the crisis. In nearby Manatee County, another 186 individuals were also rescued.

“We’ve had twice the amount of rainfall forecasted,” said Sarasota County Fire Chief David Rathbun, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the storm.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis cautioned residents about ongoing threats as water levels continued to rise.

“It’s a very saturating, wet storm,” he remarked, warning that surges from northern waterways remain a concern.

The fatalities included a tragic accident involving a truck driver on Interstate 75, whose vehicle flipped and fell into water, and a 13-year-old boy killed by a falling tree in Gainesville, Florida.

In Georgia, a 19-year-old died after a tree fell on a porch, illustrating the widespread danger of the storm. Power outages affected nearly 160,000 customers in Florida and Georgia by Monday night, though that was a decrease from earlier figures.

Nationwide, over 1,600 flights were canceled, many linked to Florida airports, according to FlightAware.com.

President Joe Biden granted emergency declarations for both South Carolina and Florida, with Georgia seeking similar federal aid. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris postponed a scheduled campaign stop in Savannah due to the storm.

North Carolina also declared a state of emergency, with significant flooding threats predicted for areas like Wilmington and the Outer Banks. The region has previously faced devastating floods from tropical systems, leading to extensive damage and loss of life in recent years.

Historically severe flooding occurred in the Carolinas in 2015, 2016, and 2018, accentuating the recurring threat these areas face from tropical systems.

This report includes contributions from various AP journalists located across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Washington, and more.