Hurricane Debby Hits Florida: Major Flooding and Power Outages Expected

Hurricane Debby is making headlines as it takes aim at Florida’s coast, bringing along serious concerns for flooding and power outages. Just this morning, the storm made landfall near Steinhatchee with winds reaching 80 mph, which is packing quite a punch for the Big Bend area.

The National Hurricane Center has been very clear about the risks involved—residents should be prepared for life-threatening storm surges and major flooding. Along the Florida Gulf Coast, people are being warned about water levels possibly rising between 6 to 10 feet in some places.

As the storm moves north, parts of Georgia and South Carolina brace for rain totals that could reach up to 30 inches by the end of the week. This is not just light rain; we’re talking about serious flooding that could create significant issues for many communities.

Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, has declared a state of emergency for over 60 counties in the state. He’s urging residents, especially those in the Big Bend region, to avoid driving. Roads are expected to flood, and getting behind the wheel might lead to dangerous situations.

Authorities have already reported that approximately 210,000 homes and businesses across Florida are currently without power. Just a couple of hours before landfall, nearly 90,000 additional locations lost power, particularly impacting the areas close to the Big Bend.

Travel also faced disruptions as hundreds of flights were canceled due to the storm’s approach. Major airports like Orlando and Tampa saw significant numbers of canceled flights, making it a frustrating day for travelers.

The National Weather Service issued warnings that could affect around 11.7 million residents in both Florida and Georgia, with potential tornado activity also in the forecast. This level of severe weather can really take a toll on communities and infrastructure.

Officials are preparing for the worst, and the city of Savannah has warned that it might end up with a month’s worth of rain within just four days if the storm stalls as expected. Local leaders stress that this storm is one for the record books, and communities need to be on high alert.