Tropical Storm Debby soaks Florida’s Gulf Coast
Weather system moves very slowly
TAMPA, Fla. – Practically parked off Florida’s Gulf Coast since the weekend, Tropical Storm Debby raked the Tampa Bay area with high wind and heavy rain Monday in a drenching that could top 2 feet over the next few days and has already led to flooding.
At least one person was killed Sunday by a tornado spun off by the large storm system in Florida.
An estimated 35,000 homes and businesses lost electricity. The National Hurricane Center reported late Monday that torrential rains and flooding would continue for the next several days across parts of the Florida Panhandle and north Florida.
The bridge leading to St. George Island was closed to everyone except residents, renters and business owners to keep looters out.
“Most true islanders are hanging in there because they know that you may or may not be able to get back to your home when you need to,” said David Walker, an island resident having a beer at Eddy Teach’s bar. He said he had been through many storms on the island and Debby was on the weaker end of the scale.
Gov. Rick Scott declared a statewide emergency, allowing authorities to put laws against price-gouging into effect and override bureaucratic hurdles to deal with the storm.
Parts of northern Florida could get 10 to 15 inches of rain, and some spots as much as 25 inches, as the storm wrings itself out.
“The widespread flooding is the biggest concern,” said Florida Emergency Operations Center spokeswoman Julie Roberts. “It’s a concern that Debby is going to be around for the next couple of days, and while it sits there, it’s going to continue to drop rain. The longer it sits, the more rain we get.”