ATLANTA, Georgia – Tropical Storm Debby inundated coastal Georgia and South Carolina with a deluge of rain on Aug 6 that could bring “catastrophic flooding” to Charleston, Savannah and other cities in the south-eastern United States, the National Hurricane Centre said. #TropicalStormDebby
At least six people have died in Florida and Georgia in the wake of the storm, which is expected to linger over the southeastern and mid-Atlantic coasts for days.
The NHC expects Debby to produce potentially historic rainfall of 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 cm). Maximum amounts could reach 63.5 cm. This rain will bring catastrophic flooding to parts of eastern South Carolina and southeast North Carolina through Friday.
The governors of those states have declared states of emergency.
The storm had 64 km/h winds and moved slowly at 8 km/h to the northeast. Its center was about 80 km east of Savannah, Georgia, on the night of August 6.
Heavy rainfall could cause flooding in parts of the mid-Atlantic through Aug 11, the Miami-based centre said.
More than 20cm of rain have already fallen on Savannah and Valdosta, Georgia, the National Weather Service said.
Charleston and Hilton Head, South Carolina, have received between 25cm and 30cm of rain so far, the weather service said, with more on the way. #TropicalStormDebby
In Savannah, rain was coming down hard outside the landmark Bellwether House, a 16-room bed-and-breakfast in the city’s historic district, but general manager Victoria Hill was not too concerned.
“This place was built in 1876,” she said. “It’s built rock-solid, and you can imagine how many storms have hit over the last century.”
Moreover, Tropical Storm Debby highlights the challenges of dealing with severe weather events. Preparation and response efforts are crucial to mitigate damage and ensure safety.
