Tropical Storm Debby has made a second landfall near Bulls Bay, South Carolina, and is threatening dangerous flooding to millions of Americans as it slowly moves up the East Coast.
The death toll from Debby has risen to six following breaking news that a man in a boat trying to ride out the storm in Gulfport, Florida, was killed.
President Joe Biden has approved emergency declarations for Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida.
These declarations authorize FEMA to provide federal assistance to save lives, protect property, and ensure public health and safety.
Debby made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend on Monday morning as a Category 1 hurricane, dumping more than 20 inches of rain, flooding Southwest Florida with several feet of storm surge and knocking out power to more than 300,000 Florida customers at the storm’s peak.
But Debbie isn’t done yet.
Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for South Carolina and the southeastern North Carolina coast.
Winds will gradually increase throughout the day, with gusts of 40 to 60 mph affecting coastal areas, especially from Myrtle Beach, North Carolina, to the Cape Fear through Thursday.
Heavy rainfall in parts of eastern South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina is expected to continue through Friday, causing significant flooding areas, according to the NHC.
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 4 flood risk warning for parts of northeastern South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina through Thursday, the highest threat level.
As Debby slowly moves along the east coast of the United States, the danger will only move more slowly northward each day.
Debbie will move inland on Thursday, bringing the worst of the flooding.
Current forecasts call for widespread rainfall of 3 to 5 inches, with localized amounts of up to 8 inches, affecting the Midlands of South Carolina and extending into east-central North Carolina, including Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte and Fayetteville.
A few tornadoes are possible along and east of Interstate 95 in North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. Multiple rivers are expected to rise to moderate to major flood levels.
Starting Friday, the storm will finally move north, bringing heavy rains into the Northeast, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Localized severe flooding is possible from the Carolinas to Maine on Friday and Saturday.
