Georgia, South Carolina take emergency steps ahead of Tropical Storm Debby

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster have both declared a state of emergency ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Debby.

Tropical Depression 4 became Tropical Storm Debby on Saturday night. It’s expected to make landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast and cross over to southeast Georgia and the Atlantic coast. It’s the fourth named storm of the 2024 season.

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“As the state prepares for a major storm system early this coming week, we urge all Georgians to take precautions to keep their families and property safe,” Kemp said.

McMaster’s order enables state agencies to coordinate and prepare.

“Team South Carolina is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Debby and has begun preparing for its potential impact on our state,” McMaster said. “With a potentially significant rainfall event forecast for the next few days, it is critical that residents in potentially affected areas start making preparations and plans today—in case it is necessary to take quick action.”

McMaster also signed an executive order to send South Carolina National Guard troops to Florida following the state’s request for aid. About 70 soldiers assigned to the 1050th Transportation Battalion, 59th Troop Command were sent to assist.

Among the other preparations in both states:

• The Georgia Department of Transportation has equipment loaded and crews on alert, including immediate-response strike teams ready to respond to potentially historic rainfall. For the safety of the department’s employees, Georgia DOT crews monitor weather conditions at all times and will stop cleanup and debris removal from interstates and state routes when sustained winds reach 40 mph. Work will resume once sustained wind speeds die down. Priority will be placed on interstates, then state routes, with highest priority given to routes to hospitals and other essential public services.
• The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services used its emergency notification system to alert owners of all regulated dams and reservoirs in the state to advise proactive steps to prepare for potential heavy rainfall. This may include clearing debris from spillways and assessing the water level to determine if lowering the level is needed to accommodate incoming storm flows. The agency’s staff is performing pre-storm assessments at high-hazard dams expected to be heavily impacted by rainfall based on current weather modeling.
• South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the state’s law against price gouging is now in effect. The law is a general prohibition of unconscionable prices during times of disaster. It is in effect until the state of emergency expires or is terminated. Price gougers can be charged with excessive pricing, a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or 30 days in jail. Normal fluctuations in price are to be expected and are not necessarily price gouging, but if you feel like you are the victim of price gouging, report it by visiting https://www.scag.gov/price-gouging or calling 803-737-3953 to leave a message.

Predictions show the system could come ashore Monday and cross over northern Florida into the Atlantic Ocean, where it’s likely to remain a tropical storm threatening Georgia and the Carolinas.

Tropical storm warnings were posted for most of Florida’s West Coast and the Dry Tortugas, and a hurricane watch was issued for parts of the Big Bend and Florida Panhandle.

A warning means storm conditions are expected within 36 hours, while a watch means they are possible within 48 hours.

Tropical storms and hurricanes can trigger river flooding and overwhelm drainage systems and canals. Forecasters warned of 5 to 10 inches (125 mm to 250 mm) of rain, which could create “locally considerable” flash and urban flooding. Forecasters also warned of moderate flooding for some rivers along Florida’s West Coast.

Some of the heaviest rains could actually come in a region along the Atlantic Coast from Jacksonville, Florida, to the north through coastal regions of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The storm is expected to slow down after making landfall.

“We could see a stall or a meandering motion around coastal portions of the southeastern United States,” National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said in a Saturday briefing. “So that’s going to exacerbate not just the rainfall risk, but also the potential for storm surge and some strong winds.”

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