Tropical Storm Debby Batters the East Coast, Leaving Several Dead: Read the Recap

Mar. 15, 2025

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The storm first made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in the Big Bend of Florida around 7 a.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 3, with maximum wind speeds of 80 miles per hour, according to theNational Weather Service.

TheNational Hurricane Centerpredicts the slow-moving storm will produce “potentially historic rainfall” from southeast portions of Georgia to coastal South Carolina through Saturday, Aug. 10, in addition to life-threatening storm surge along the Gulf Coast of Florida.

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North Carolina Governor Roy Cooperdeclared a state of emergencyon Aug. 5, as the storm continued up the East Coast.

“It is very likely that some areas that have never flooded in the past will be impacted this time,” said John Quagliariello of the NWS, perThe New York Times.

The U.S. is now entering peak hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 1.

Here’s a recap of everything you may have missed as the storm began its path through the East Coast.

Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg via Getty

Residents of S.C. County Asked to Evacuate Due to Dam with ‘Potential to Fail’

August 06, 2024 05:37 PM EDT

Colleton Countyfire officialsmade the announcement on Tuesday, Aug. 6, encouraging those living between Edward Road and Cavanaugh Road south of Cane Branch Road, to “evacuate the area immediately,” as Cane Branch “may be impassable.”

Fire officials later clarified that the statement wassimply precautionary, noting that “substantial floodingin the area of the dam and creek” had already resulted in the closure of Edward Road and Cavanaugh Road.

Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty

August 06, 2024 12:02 PM EDT

A good Samaritan “contacted authorities” after they “discovered the drugs,” which weighed about 70 lbs., Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Miami Sector Samuel Briggs II said in a post on X.

“U.S. Border Patrol seized the drugs, which have a street value of over $1 million dollars,” Briggs added.

Samuel Briggs II/x

2 People Rescued From Sail Boat in Gulf of Mexico After Getting Caught in Storm

August 06, 2024 11:46 AM EDT

The 34-foot sailing vessel and its two passengers were found about 73 miles off Boca Grande around 11 a.m. local time, Coast Guard officials said in a news release.

The boaters’ friend contacted St. Petersburg watchstanders around 5 p.m. local time on Saturday, Aug. 3, “reporting the two boaters missed their check-in while sailing from Key West to Tarpon Springs.”

Nathan Thomas, one of the two men who were on the boat, toldABC Newsthat being on the boat during the storm felt “like being in a washing machine.”

Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg/Getty

“The storm came across faster than I anticipated,” Thomas explained. “I knew it was there, but I thought I could beat it. I played the cards and guess what? I gamble wrong. I lost that hand.”

The boaters were facing low visibility, 15 to 20-foot seas and approximately 50-knot wind speeds when a helicopter rescue crew hoisted the two to safety, according to the Coast Guard. No injuries were reported.

5th Person Dead After Tree Falls onto Georgia Home

August 06, 2024 11:30 AM EDT

The man who died has not been publicly identified.

Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg

4th Person Dead After Semi Truck Plunges into Florida Canal

August 05, 2024 05:30 PM EDT

Hillsborough County’s Fire Rescue team received a call around 2:35 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 5 about a semi truck thatveered off Interstate 75and plunged into the Tampa Bypass Canal, according to a news release from the department.

The truck was found “mostly over the guard rail” when crews arrived at the scene, though its front cab was “still out of the water.” However, the cab eventually “became submerged.”

Fire officials later announced the driver of the truckhad died. Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.

“While we’re on the way here, we’re getting hurricane warnings, tornado warnings, everything like that,” Sheriff’s Diver Deputy Jeremy Pollack said in a video posted to the rescue team’sInstagrampage.

August 05, 2024 01:15 PM EDT

McMaster said crews are “closely monitoring” the storm and have “begun preparing for its potential impact” on South Carolina, according to a news release published on Sunday.

The NWS saidrainfall will be most extremefrom midday Monday, Aug. 5 through the end of Wednesday, Aug. 7, though significant rainfall is expected through Friday, Aug. 9.

McMaster is urging those in potentially affected areas to “start making preparations and plans today — in case it is necessary to take quick action."

Car Crash, Fallen Tree Lead to 3 Deaths in Florida

A 13-year-old boy died in Levy County after he was“crushed” when a tree fellonto a mobile home around 8 a.m. local time on Monday, Aug. 5, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

The LCSO is encouraging everyone “to use extreme caution as they begin to assess and clean up the damage” from the storm.

The tree that fell on a Levy County mobile home and crushed a 13-year-old boy, who ultimately died.Levy County Sheriff’s Office

Levy County Sheriff’s Office

Witnesses told FHP the car lost control “due to inclement weather and wet roadway” before hitting a guard rail around 9:30 p.m. local time.

A 14-year-old boy who was also involved in the single-car crash was transported to UF Health with serious injuries. (FHP did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.)

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source: people.com