Storm Debby made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend region on Monday morning, bringing torrential rain and catastrophic flooding across the U.S. Southeast. The hurricane hit near Steinhatchee around 7 a.m. with winds up to 80 mph before weakening to a tropical storm. It had already dumped up to a foot of rain in some areas, according to Florida’s Division of Emergency Management.
Heavy rains continued to flood the beach town of Steinhatchee, with significant flooding in bayfront restaurants. One fatality was reported in Hillsborough County, where an 18-wheeler truck driver lost control and ended up in the Tampa Bypass Canal. The storm is expected to move offshore by Tuesday night but is forecasted to re-strengthen and impact the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina later this week.
The National Hurricane Center predicts “catastrophic flooding,” with some areas from Florida to southeastern North Carolina expected to receive over two feet of rain by Friday. Emergency management officials warn that the storm’s effects could last up to ten days, depending on the total rainfall.
