North and South Carolina Soaked by Tropical Storm Debby
The coastal states of North Carolina and South Carolina were lashed with torrential rains as Tropical Storm Debby regained strength in the Atlantic. The storm, having already wreaked havoc in parts of Florida and Georgia, has since made landfall in South Carolina and is expected to continue dumping prolific amounts of rain and causing life-threatening flooding. Debby’s impact reveals not only the immediate dangers of such storms but also the role of climate change in intensifying their effects.
Path of the Storm
Tropical Storm Debby tracked over near-record warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, bolstering its strength before it made its initial landfall as a hurricane in Florida. After briefly exiting into the Atlantic, the storm made a surprising turn back, making a second landfall on the South Carolina coast. The storm, currently bearing winds of 60 mph, is forecasted to move northeast slowly, posing a threat mainly to the coastal regions of the Carolinas.
Historic Rainfall
Parts of Florida, Georgia, and now the Carolinas have seen massive volumes of rainfall due to Debby. According to the National Weather Service, some regions recorded more than a foot of rain, turning roads into rivers and homes into watery wrecks. Flooding warnings loom over eastern Georgia, eastern South Carolina, and eastern North Carolina, with some locations anticipated to receive up to 14 inches of rain. As the storm slowly moves north in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Charleston, the expected rainfall continues to fuel concerns about widespread flooding.
Preparations and Precautions
In response to the anticipated damage, North Carolina’s Governor, Roy Cooper, warned the state’s residents to brace for significant rainfall and potential flooding. Residents are urged to avoid flooded regions and practice safety to minimize the risk of injuries or fatalities. In addition, various swift water rescue teams have been prepositioned across the state as a precautionary measure.
Under President Joe Biden’s orders, a disaster declaration has been approved for North Carolina enabling
