Tropical Storm Debby Triggers Catastrophic Flooding, Tornadoes from South Carolina to Georgia
In an alarming development, Tropical Storm Debby has triggered catastrophic floods and tornadoes across Southeast, with cities like Savannah, Georgia; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Wilmington, North Carolina expected to experience over a foot of rainfall through the week. Worst hit is expected to be Charleston, South Carolina, where up to 2.5 feet of rain is predicted.
High-Level Outlook
The latest official update shows that Debby has slowed to 3 mph, causing it to draw more energy from the warm Atlantic waters, thereby escalating the flood potential for areas of the Southeast and Northeast. After making landfall along Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 1 hurricane, Debby is now moving slowly towards the northeast. The storm has already caused significant damage, flooding parts of Southwest Florida with over 20 inches of rain and knocking out power to more than 300,000 customers.
Crisis Response
Presidential intervention has deemed the situation in Georgia an emergency and federal assistance has been called upon to aid local and state response efforts against the conditions created by Debby.
The NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center has issued an uppermost risk alert, Level 4, for flood hazards in parts of southeastern Georgia, eastern South Carolina, and southeastern North Carolina for the coming days. This risk will gradually shift north with the movement of Debby.
Trail of Devastation
In South Carolina, a tornado struck Moncks Corner causing severe damage to several businesses, with trees and power poles falling and at least one car flipping over. The Mayor has since cleared roads for re-opening and reported only minor injuries.
Damage from tornadoes was also apparent in Edisto Beach, South Carolina with reports of property damage and downed power poles. No injuries were reported.
Georgia witnessed swift water rescues after a car was driven into a flooded area in Jeff Davis County. National Weather Services continued to issue Flash Flood Warnings in southeastern parts of Georgia and eastern sections of South Carolina.
The Road Ahead
Forecasts show that Debby’s core is set to veer into the Atlantic Ocean, which could potentially strengthen it further. However, the storm is likely to remain a tropical mode. Cities like Savannah, Georgia; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Wilmington, North Carolina, are bracing for over a foot of rainfall. Charleston, South Carolina, is preparing for extreme volumes of rainfall, up to 2.5 feet potentially leading to life-threatening floods and overflowing rivers.
Besides the heavy rainfall, residents across Southeast will battle with tropical-storm-force winds and a few tornadoes as well.
Emergency Actions
Governors of South Carolina and Georgia have both declared states of emergency ahead of the storm and urged residents to gear up for “significant rainfall.” The National Guard has been activated to respond to the potential impacts of extreme flooding. North Carolina Governor also followed suit with a state of emergency declaration.
Measures are being put in place to maintain public safety and prevent further damages, including enforced curfews and shelter-in-place orders. Charleston city’s Mayor encourages residents to remain indoors, not venturing out as floods continue to rise.
Continued Monitoring
According to the National Hurricane Center, computer models project Debby to move off the Southeast U.S. coast before being pushed back inland over South Carolina. Despite uncertainties in forecast details, there is high confidence that slow movements of Debby near or over the southeastern U.S will result in catastrophic floods in certain areas.
