Tropical Storm Debby drenched northern Florida on Monday, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming several lives as it churned toward Georgia and the Carolinas. The downgraded hurricane threatened to unleash a week of torrential downpours and widespread flooding across the southeastern United States.
The slow-moving storm made landfall around 7 a.m., striking Florida’s Gulf Coast near Steinhatchee—about 115 kilometers southeast of Tallahassee—as a Category 1 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. With hurricane-force winds reaching up to 130 kilometers per hour, Debby battered the Big Bend region where the state’s Panhandle meets the Peninsula.
As Debby pushed inland, wind speeds diminished, but the devastation continued. In Levy County, falling trees tragically claimed the lives of a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy, officials reported. In Valdosta, Georgia, a 19-year-old man was killed when a tree collapsed onto a porch, police said.
Further casualties included a truck driver who lost control of his 18-wheeler on Interstate 75, plunging into the Tampa Bypass Canal. Additionally, a 38-year-old woman and her 12-year-old son lost their lives when their SUV crashed in stormy conditions in Dixie County, north of Tampa, according to law enforcement.
Authorities warn that Debby’s slow pace could result in prolonged heavy rainfall, increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying areas. Residents in the storm’s path are urged to stay alert and follow safety advisories.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
