Tropical Storm Debby Wreaks Havoc With Catastrophic Flooding

Tropical Storm Debby brought torrential rain to coastal Georgia and South Carolina, resulting in catastrophic flooding in Charleston, Savannah, and other southeastern cities. The storm has caused six fatalities in Florida and Georgia and is expected to continue impacting the region for days, with unprecedented rainfall totals and heavy winds.

Tropical Storm Debby drenched coastal Georgia and South Carolina with torrential rain on Tuesday, prompting warnings from the National Hurricane Center of 'catastrophic flooding' in Charleston, Savannah, and other southeastern cities. The storm has claimed at least six lives in Florida and Georgia and is forecasted to remain over the southeastern and mid-Atlantic coasts for several more days.

'Debby is expected to produce potentially historic rainfall totals of 10 to 20 inches (25 cm to 51 cm), with maximum amounts of 25 inches (63.5 cm), leading to areas of catastrophic flooding across parts of eastern South Carolina and southeast North Carolina through Friday,' the NHC reported. Both states' governors have declared states of emergency.

With winds reaching 40 mph (64 kph) and moving northeast at 5 mph (8 kph), the storm's center was about 50 miles (80 km) east of Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday night. Heavy rainfall poses flood threats to the mid-Atlantic through Sunday, the Miami-based center said. More than 8 inches (20 cm) of rain have already fallen in Savannah and Valdosta, Georgia, with Charleston and Hilton Head, South Carolina, receiving between 10 and 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), according to the National Weather Service.

In Savannah, rain was incessant outside the historic Bellwether House, but General Manager Victoria Hill remained unflustered. 'This place was built in 1876,' she noted. 'It's built rock-solid, and you can imagine how many storms have hit over the last century.'

While many tourists had canceled their stays, a few guests remained. 'We're here, we're open, and we're holding up. We'll all ride this out together,' said Hill.

Charleston Mayor William Cogswell forecasted over 2 feet (61 cm) of rain before the storm's end, with storm surges of 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) preventing floodwater drainage even at low tide. 'There are not enough pumps in the world to handle this much rain,' he declared, extending a citywide curfew until Wednesday morning. 'Nobody should be out on the streets unless it's an absolute emergency,' he stressed.

McGrady Dam in Colleton County -- about 50 miles (80 km) west of Charleston -- risked breach, prompting evacuation warnings from the county sheriff.

Debby, which hit Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday morning, dumped 8 to 16 inches (20 to 41 cm) of rain in central Florida, with five deaths in Florida and one near Valdosta, Georgia. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson anticipated a 'once-in-a-thousand-year' rain event that would 'create islands in the city.'

Cedrick King, a businessman from Brunswick, Georgia, decided to evacuate with his family to Atlanta. 'We're headed north, far away from this storm,' he said.

(With inputs from agencies.)