Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a warning about potential flooding statewide Sunday as Tropical Storm Debby is expected to make landfall as a hurricane in the Big Bend region near Tallahassee on Monday.
During a morning news conference at the state Emergency Operations Center, DeSantis urged residents in Debby’s path to complete their preparations for what he described as a “major event” with “significant impacts across the state.”
“This is a big storm. You’re going to have rain far beyond the center of the storm,” DeSantis emphasized. “Just because you’re not in the eye of the storm does not mean you are not going to have major impacts.”
Read: Tropical Storm Debby To Strengthen, Threatening Florida With Hurricane Conditions And Flooding
President Joe Biden has approved an emergency declaration to provide federal assistance to supplement Florida’s efforts in managing Debby, the White House announced Sunday morning. Biden authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate efforts.
Kevin Guthrie, Director of the State Division of Emergency Management, noted that Debby has a one-in-three chance of rapid intensification before landfall. The National Hurricane Center reported Sunday morning that the storm was in the Gulf of Mexico about 200 miles south-southwest of Tampa, with sustained winds of 50 mph.
Forecasts indicate that Debby could make landfall with maximum sustained winds between 74 mph and 95 mph, potentially as a Category 1 or even a Category 2 hurricane. North Florida could receive up to 18 inches of rain.
AccuWeather meteorologists reported that conditions in the Gulf of Mexico are conducive to the storm’s growth, with water temperatures historically “well above” average. They warned of potentially life-threatening storm surges reaching 6 to 10 feet and noted that flooding issues had already started in South Florida on Saturday night.
“This storm is going to make for a dangerous and long week for people in parts of the southeastern United States,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. “Do not be lulled into a false sense of security because Debby is currently rated as a tropical storm.”
The Big Bend region, previously hit by Hurricane Idalia in August 2023 and tornadoes in May, is preparing for further impacts. Utilities statewide have mobilized 17,000 linemen to restore power post-storm, including support for areas with municipal utilities.
“Mutual aid crews from other utilities are pre-positioned to assist with restoration of outages as soon as conditions are safe,” said Amy Zubaly, Executive Director of the Florida Municipal Electric Association.
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Duke Energy Florida has mobilized more than 3,000 workers, including crews from Kentucky and Ohio, to respond to potential outages.
DeSantis also mentioned that 3,000 Florida National Guard members are on standby to assist with search-and-rescue operations, debris clearance, and distribution of food and water. The Department of Transportation, which has begun clearing roads, has 1,200 generators ready to maintain traffic signals during power outages.
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