About 300,000 customers were without power in Florida and Georgia on Monday, according to PowerOutage.com. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said some 17,000 linemen are working to restore electricity. He warned residents in affected areas to sit tight until conditions are safe. “When the water rises, when you have streets that can be flooded, that’s hazardous,” DeSantis said. “Don’t try to drive through this. We don’t want to see traffic fatalities adding up. Don’t tempt fate, don’t try to go through these flooded streets.”
Quick Read
- Debby has weakened to a tropical storm but continues to pose a flooding threat to Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
- The storm currently has top winds around 70 mph (110 kph) and is moving north-northeast, expected to slow and turn east.
- Debby made landfall as a hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend region, a sparsely populated area.
- Forecasters warn of catastrophic flooding from heavy rain in affected areas.
- Storm surge remains a significant threat in Florida, with predictions of 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) of inundation.
- Areas like Sarasota and Manatee counties have already received 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 centimeters) of rain.
- Major flooding is predicted for some rivers in Georgia, including the Canoochee, Ohoopee, and Ogeechee Rivers.
- Approximately 300,000 customers are without power in Florida and Georgia.
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stated that 17,000 linemen are working to restore electricity and urged residents to stay safe and avoid flooded areas.
The Associated Press has the story:
Hurricane Debby knocks out power to hundreds of thousands in Florida, Georgia
Newslooks- (AP)
Hurricane Debby has weakened into a tropical storm with top winds hovering around 70 mph (110 kph). The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm was moving slowly to the north-northeast, and was expected to decrease in speed as it turns to the east. Debby made landfall as a hurricane in the Big Bend region of Florida, one of the state’s least populated areas.
Forecasters are still warning that heavy rain could spawn catastrophic flooding in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia.
Big worry is storm surge from Debby
Forecasters said storm surge was expected to be the biggest threat for Florida, with 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) of inundation above ground level predicted in part of the zone near the Big Bend.
“That part of the coast is a very vulnerable spot,” John Cangialosi, a hurricane specialist with the National Hurricane Center, said Monday. Some areas, including Sarasota and Manatee counties, have already received 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 centimeters) of rain.
In Georgia, the National Weather Service is predicting major flooding on some rivers: the Canoochee River near Claxton, the Ohoopee River near Reidsville and the Ogeechee River near Eden. All those rivers were below flood stage Monday but could see their water levels more than double by later in the week.
Hundreds of thousands without power
About 300,000 customers were without power in Florida and Georgia on Monday, according to PowerOutage.com.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said some 17,000 linemen are working to restore electricity. He warned residents in affected areas to sit tight until conditions are safe.
“When the water rises, when you have streets that can be flooded, that’s hazardous,” DeSantis said. “Don’t try to drive through this. We don’t want to see traffic fatalities adding up. Don’t tempt fate, don’t try to go through these flooded streets.”
