Savannah Fire Advanced Firefighters Andrew Stevenson and Ron Strauss were seen carrying food to residents stranded in the Tremont Park neighborhood in Savannah, Georgia. These residents were trapped by the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Debby on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
At least six people have died in Florida and Georgia due to the storm. Tropical Storm Debby is expected to stay over the southeastern and mid-Atlantic coasts for several days.
The National Hurricane Center warned that Debby could produce up to 25 inches of rain, leading to catastrophic flooding in eastern South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina through Friday. The governors of Georgia and South Carolina have declared states of emergency.
The storm, with winds of 40 miles per hour, moved south of Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday afternoon. Heavy rain has already caused significant flooding, with Savannah and Valdosta, Georgia, receiving more than 8 inches of rain. Charleston and Hilton Head, South Carolina, have received between 10 and 12 inches, with more rain expected.
In Savannah’s historic district, the landmark Bellwether House, built in 1876, remained resilient despite the storm. Victoria Hill, the general manager, stated, “This place was built rock-solid. We’ve weathered many storms over the last century.”
Charleston Mayor Warns of Severe Flooding
Charleston Mayor William Cogswell warned that the city could receive over 2 feet of rain before the storm passes. He extended a citywide curfew until Wednesday morning, urging residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary.
Concerns about a breach at the McGrady Dam in Colleton County, part of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, prompted an evacuation warning from the county sheriff’s office.
Devastation in Florida
Debby made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend region on Monday, bringing 8 to 16 inches of rain. The storm has caused five deaths in Florida and one in Georgia. Over 88,000 customers in Florida and 10,000 in Georgia were without power on Tuesday.
The storm could spawn tornadoes, with one suspected twister already flipping cars and damaging restaurants in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. The National Hurricane Center said Debby would move off Georgia’s coast on Tuesday before heading inland over South Carolina by Thursday.
Vice President Kamala Harris Postpones Visit
Vice President Kamala Harris postponed her presidential campaign stop in Savannah due to the storm. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson described the event as a “once-in-a-thousand-year” rain event, stating, “This will literally create islands in the city.”
Cedrick King, a businessman from Brunswick, Georgia, and his family packed up their belongings and headed to Atlanta to escape the storm. “We’re headed north, far away from this storm,” he said.
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