ATLANTA — Tropical Storm Debby continues its slow trek northeast, impacting South Carolina with heavy rain and tornado watches on Tuesday. Some coastal Georgia cities have experienced flooding.
In north Georgia, expect mostly cloudy skies with occasional afternoon breaks. Temperatures are starting in the 70s and will climb into the 90s later Tuesday. Breezy conditions are forecasted, with gusts reaching up to 25 mph, particularly in areas like Eatonton and Athens.
In Savannah, severe flooding has prompted swift action from Savannah Fire and Rescue, which is actively responding to emergencies. Meanwhile, in Florida, first responders rescued 500 people from flooded homes in Sarasota County.
Debby made landfall Monday morning along Florida's Big Bend as an expected Category 1 hurricane. By 11 a.m. ET, it had weakened to a tropical storm as it continued to make its way toward Georgia.
Tropical Strom Debby | Live Updates
Wednesday, Aug. 7
5 a.m. | Debby remains a tropical storm, moves over Atlantic off GA/SC coast; minimal impacts on north Georgia
Debby remains a tropical storm and has moved back out over water in the Atlantic off the Georgia and South Carolina coast. Tropical Storm Warnings are being canceled for much of southeastern Georgia, although some still hold near the coast where tropical storm-force winds are expected. There is also a flood threat for our neighbors in South Carolina and southeast Georgia, with Flood Watches in place through Friday in some spots.
Tropical Storm Debby had minimal impacts on North Georgia, and that trend will continue for the rest of the week. For Thursday and Friday, expect only a slight chance for rain with a partly cloudy sky overhead. Lows will be in the 70s, and highs will rise into the lower 90s.
Tuesday, Aug. 6
11 p.m. | 11Alive's Chief Meteorologist Chris Holcomb gave an update during the 6 p.m. newscast about the storm heading to South Carolina:
6:20 p.m. | Tropical Storm Debby update
11Alive's Chief Meteorologist Chris Holcomb gave an update during the 6 p.m. newscast.
6:02 p.m. | Bulloch County breached dam update
11Alive's Cody Alcorn is in Bulloch County near Little Creek, where the dam was breached as crews worked on fixing the break.
Residents have told Cody Alcorn that they have never seen the water that high within 30 years of living there.
The dam is a 200-acre pond that is spilling downstream at Simmons Mill Pond near Highway 46.
6:00 p.m. | 11Alive Team Coverage
Tropical Storm Debby continues to dump large amounts of rain and heavy winds across south Georgia as it slowly moves back into the Atlantic Ocean.
5:54 p.m. | Tropical Storm Debby update
Debby continues to linger near the coastline along the Georgia-South Carolina border. It is now moving at only 3 miles per hour to the ENE, about the average walking pace of an adult.
One of the biggest impacts for Georgia will be the rainfall. Heavy rain will especially be an issue for middle and south Georgia where some spots may receive more than 10 inches of rain.
However, the metro area won't see much rain at all based on the current track.
4:22 p.m. | Photos of storm damage, preparations and more in south Georgia
4:05 p.m. | Bulloch County Sheriff's Office closes more roads for dam breach
"In addition, Arcola Road from Lee Road to Black Creek Road is closing as well," the office said in a Facebook post.
3:22 p.m. | U-Haul helps with disaster assistance
U-Haul announced that it would be adding 138 stores in Georgia and the Carolinas to help with disaster assistance. They are telling residents who have experienced flood damage or are concerned about their homes or possessions to use a 30-day free storage offer.
2:00 p.m. | Tropical Storm Debby slowly moves near Savannah
11Alive Weather Impact Meteorologist Melissa Nord said that the center of the storm is moving slowly near Savannah.
It will slowly move forward, moving over the coast of Georgia for the next 48 hours. In southeastern Georgia, from Valdosta to Savannah, rainfall totals within the past 72 years have been from five inches to about nine inches, which could be causing some flooding in the area.
1:44 p.m. | South Georgia power outage update
Georgia Power announces that they have restored 100,000 customers' power after the storm. The company added that it is working on restoring approximately 11.000 customers' power that were impacted since the start of the storm, including those who might have been impacted Monday night.
As of 1:44 p.m., Georgia EMC reports that 24,500 customers are still impacted by outages in the southern region of Georgia. Georgia Powers stated that 11,000 customers are still impacted, putting the total number of residents without power at over 30,000.
12:45 p.m. | Bulloch County Dams Breached
Residents near the Simmons Pond or downstream are asked to see shelter from the area and avoid that section of Highway 46. Water is expected to rise more before it drops.
11:45 a.m. | Swift boat rescue reported this morning by GEMA in southeast Georgia:
A Facebook post stated: "State officials had a swift water rescue this morning after a car drove into a flooded area in Jeff Davis County. We encourage all residents in affected areas to stay off the roads.
"As a reminder, never drive through standing water. It only takes one foot to float a full-sized automobile and two feet can sweep it away.
"For information on what to do during a flood event, visit https://gema.georgia.gov/floods-and-flash-floods."
11:35 a.m. | Bulloch County road closures, washouts, standing water
The Bulloch County Public Safety and EMA took to Facebook saying that 40-50 roads were affected with water over them at some point within the day.
50-70 trees were across the road and five trees on houses, according to the EMA.
11:30 a.m. | Still thousands without power
Georgia Power lists more than 5,300 customers without power in the Savannah area and more than 4,600 around Valdosta.
Georgia EMC is listing almost 29,000 in south Georgia, and almost 1,000 in southeast Georgia.
10:00 a.m. | Power update
Georgia Power lists more than 7,500 customers affected around Savannah, and almost 6,000 surrounding Valdosta.
Georgia EMC lists more than 28,000 in south Georgia and another 2,700 in southeast Georgia.
9:45 a.m. | Gov. Kemp's press conference has concluded. You can re-watch it above this story momentarily.
9:30 a.m. | Gov. Brian Kemp is speaking now on Debby impact and response. You can watch his remarks in the video player above this story.
8:35 a.m. | Latest power update
Georgia Power is listing about 8,800 outages around Savannah and 5,800 in the south Georgia border counties.
Georgia EMC lists almost 28,000 outages in south Georgia and another 3,000 in its southeast Georgia region.
7:20 a.m. | Power situation in south Georgia
Georgia Power currently lists more than 9,200 outages around Savannah and more than 5,800 in the Florida border counties.
Georgia EMC, meanwhile, lists more than 25,000 outages in south Georgia. The local Colquitt EMC lists more than 13,000 of those in Valdosta, nearly 4,600 in Tifton and more than 3,000 in Moultrie.
5:25 a.m. | North Georgia Weather Impacts
- Tropical Storm Debby: Currently impacting South Carolina with heavy rain and tornado watches. Savannah has seen significant rainfall but remains outside the tornado watch area.
- Local Conditions: North Georgia is experiencing mostly cloudy skies, with some breaks expected in the afternoon. Far western counties are starting off clear.
- Georgia Power and Georgia EMC: Crews are on standby to respond to the approximately 37,000 outages across the state. Additional linemen from Alabama and Mississippi are ready to assist if needed.
- Governor Kemp: Expected to provide an update on response efforts around 9:20 a.m.
Watch the full morning update below:
Monday, Aug. 5
11:30 p.m. | President Joe Biden declared that an emergency exists in Georgia and ordered federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts due to emergency conditions from now-tropical storm Debby beginning on Aug. 4.
This authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts and to provide appropriate assistance, according to a release.
In addition, Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures -- limited to direct federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care like evacuation and shelter support will be provided at 75% for the following counties:
Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Ware, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox and Worth.
11:15 p.m. | 11Alive's Cody Alcorn gives an update about how the storm is affecting Savannah,
11:00 p.m. | Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said on Facebook that the city is planning multiple street closures ahead of the anticipated historic flooding. It is asked that people do not drive down flooded streets or remove barricades.
Below are the following street closures:
- 52nd from Montgomery to Exchange
- 51st from Hopkins to Stevens
- Anderson at Paulsen
- Henry from Atlantic to E. Broad
- Paulsen from 63rd to 60th
- Victory from Waters to Cedar
- Victory at MLK
- E. Lathrop at Louisville
- Jefferson from 38th to 39th
- Abercorn from 63rd to 66th
- Grove from Anderson to 31st
- Newell from Lathrop to Glass
- Magazine from Feeley to Cornwall
- Ferrill from Exley to Bay
- Habersham from Columbus Lane to 63rd
- Jefferson at 34th
- 60th from Reynolds to Battey
- 37th at MLK
- Thackery from Sylvan to Oakview
For the latest map of flood-prone areas and current road closures, click here.
