The death toll from Tropical Storm Debby continues to rise after the storm made its second landfall in the US early Thursday.
As of now, at least six fatalities have been linked to the storm, which unleashed a deadly tornado in Lucama, North Carolina, on Thursday. This tornado, which struck approximately 35 miles southeast of Raleigh, destroyed homes and damaged a school.
Debby first hit Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday and has since unleashed over a foot of rain across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. This intense rainfall has caused rivers to overflow, flooded roads, and left many trapped in cars, homes, and boats. Adding to the woes, a heatwave is expected to hit the region soon, potentially hindering recovery efforts.
Further turmoil expected as Debby moves northeast
Increasing death toll and damage
Early on Thursday, a tornado generated by Debby devastated parts of Wilson County in North Carolina, claiming one life when a man’s home in Lucama collapsed, according to a county spokesperson who spoke to CNN. The storm has also been responsible for four deaths in Florida and one in Georgia.
Confirmed tornadoes
Since Thursday, Debby has stirred up at least a dozen tornadoes across Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. A particularly severe tornado hit Snow Hill, North Carolina, described as “large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly.” A tornado watch remains in effect until 8 p.m. ET for 6.8 million people in parts of eastern North Carolina and southern Virginia, including cities like Raleigh, Virginia Beach, and Richmond.
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Severe flooding and storm path
Debby’s relentless downpour has isolated one North Carolina town from its surroundings after dropping up to 8 inches of rain in just a few hours on Wednesday night, prompting a rare flash flood emergency from the National Weather Service. Bladenboro, located in the southern part of the state, reported floodwaters up to three feet deep.
Storm’s trajectory
The storm is expected to pick up speed and weaken as it moves through North Carolina and into northern Virginia by Friday morning. It will then pass through Pennsylvania and New York on Friday, reaching New England by early Saturday afternoon. This trajectory is likely to bring heavy rain and flash flooding to areas already soaked by recent storms.
Governor’s warning and disaster response
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has urged residents to prepare for significant rainfall and flooding. “All North Carolinians across our state need to be prepared for a deluge,” he stated, emphasizing the unusual volume of rain expected. Rainfall in the state had already exceeded a foot by Thursday afternoon. Dangerous rip currents and storm surges up to three feet are anticipated along the Carolinas’ coasts on Thursday.
[clube_cta]In response to the widespread damage, President Joe Biden has approved disaster declarations for Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Over 700 Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel are in the region, with search and rescue teams ready to assist.
Imminent dam failure and extreme heat
A dam in Bulloch County, Georgia, is at risk of “imminent failure” due to Debby’s heavy rains, warned the National Weather Service in Charleston, South Carolina. The area has already experienced severe flooding, necessitating water rescues in a mobile home park. Should the dam break, downstream communities might face evacuation due to the threat of further flooding.
Meanwhile, the Southeast is bracing for triple-digit temperatures following the storm, with heat indices potentially surpassing 110 degrees. This intense heat is expected to persist through the weekend, complicating recovery efforts.
Local impacts and wildlife encounters
Debby’s impact has been a stark reminder of the devastating effects of climate change, fueled by fossil fuel emissions. The storm has intensified rapidly, aided by unusually warm Gulf of Mexico waters.
In South Carolina’s Lowcountry, floodwaters have transformed Adrienne LeBlanc’s yard in Bluffton into a haven for alligators. “It’s like National Geographic in our backyard right now,” LeBlanc remarked to CNN, describing the surreal scene of alligators swimming and wrestling near her home.
Despite her familiarity with alligators, the sight was still surprising, especially since she had only seen such flooding once before, during Hurricane Matthew in 2016. South Carolina last experienced a named storm landfall with Hurricane Ian in 2022, and the most recent storm to traverse the state was Tropical Storm Idalia in August 2023.
