Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held his third press conference today at the State Emergency Operations Center, providing updates on Tropical Storm Debby, which made landfall as a hurricane earlier this morning in the Big Bend region.
Debby, initially a hurricane, weakened to a tropical storm by 11 AM EDT, and is currently located 35 miles west of Lake City, Florida. It is expected to continue moving slowly across northern Florida and southern Georgia throughout Monday and Tuesday.
Read: Rescues Underway In Sarasota County After Record Rainfall From Hurricane Debby
While maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 75 mph, the storm is still expected to cause significant impacts. Approximately 143,000 Floridians are currently without power, though the state has already restored power to 322,000 accounts. The Florida Department of Transportation has completed preliminary assessments of over 4,500 lane miles of state roads.
Residents in need of resources are encouraged to call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557.
Read: Skyway Bridge Remains Closed Due To High Winds And Inclement Weather From Debby
Various warnings and advisories remain in effect, including Hurricane Warnings for several counties, Tropical Storm Warnings for a wider area, and Storm Surge Warnings for coastal regions.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) is actively coordinating with counties, state agencies, and other partners to assess needs and respond efficiently to the storm’s impacts.
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