By: Emila Zhang

Tropical Storm Debby has hit Florida, parts of Georgia, and South Carolina. Debby hit Florida on Sunday night as a hurricane, hours before the storm was expected to land on Florida’s Big Bend coast early Monday. The storm is expected to cause heavy rain and floods measuring six to 12 inches of rain in Florida throughout the week.

In Georgia and South Carolina, rainfall is expected to be 10 to 20 inches and up to 20 to 30 inches in some places on Friday. Debby brought a tropical storm over the Gulf of Mexico and into a hurricane on Sunday night with winds of 80 miles per hour. Up to 10 feet of storm surge – a rise of water generated by a storm – over and above the tides.

“This is a life-threatening situation,” the National Hurricane Center said.

Officials in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina made emergency resources available, opened shelters, and urged residents of low-land seaside areas in the storm’s path to evacuate. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida called out to about 3,000 members of the state National Guard to help with the storm.

Fifteen counties issued voluntary or optional evacuation orders covering thousands of people who lived where the major flooding was expected. Hurricane Debby’s effects will be more of its rains when it reaches Florida, DeSantis said at a news conference on Sunday.

The storm is expected to reach Georgia on Tuesday. The governor of Georgia, Brian P. Kemp, on Saturday declared a state of emergency. The Governor of South Carolina, Henry McMaster, also declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm and told the residents to take the dangerous weather seriously.

“It is important that residents in likely affected areas start preparing and plans in case it is necessary to take quick action,” McMaster said.

Anywhere from a five-foot storm surge in Tampa Bay to a 10-foot storm surge near where the storm’s center pushes ashore is possible. The hurricane season is quite busy this year. This series of hurricanes is part of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, with 17 to 25 named storms. Debby is the 4th so far. Although Hurricane Debby is a category one hurricane, this storm will help people prepare for future storms.