President Biden has authorized an emergency declaration for Florida as Tropical Storm Debby heads towards the state, as confirmed by the White House on Sunday.
This declaration enables federal resources to be allocated and empowers the Department of Homeland Security along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to manage disaster relief efforts, according to the White House.
Debby is anticipated to strengthen into a hurricane while traversing the Gulf of Mexico, posing a risk of severe flooding later this week.
According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, the storm is likely to escalate to a Category 1 hurricane prior to making landfall on Monday in the Big Bend area of Florida.
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President Biden speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Aug. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The expected flooding, which could extend through Friday, is projected to be particularly intense in coastal lowlands such as Savannah, Georgia, Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina.
In an update shared at 11 a.m. on Sunday, the hurricane center reported that Debby was positioned about 130 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, and roughly 160 miles south-southwest of Cedar Key, Florida. The storm is moving north-northwest at 13 mph, with maximum sustained winds rising to 65 mph from 50 mph just a few hours prior.
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“I want to remind all Floridians that a hurricane is on track to impact our state, likely a Category 1, although it may be stronger,” stated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during a Sunday morning briefing.
“We are definitely anticipating significant rainfall, saturation, and flooding events,” he added. “Power outages are also expected.”
This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Debby as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida on Aug. 4, 2024. (NOAA via AP)
DeSantis mentioned that, for the first time, flood control measures are being implemented at utility stations to mitigate potential power outages due to flooding.
The National Hurricane Center forecasts that the storm will intensify as it curves off the southwest coast of Florida, where sea temperatures are notably high.
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DeSantis has proclaimed a state of emergency for 61 out of Florida’s 67 counties, and the National Guard has activated 3,000 personnel.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
