Members of Florida’s congressional delegation signed a joint letter on Monday calling for President Joe Biden to have FEMA approve the state’s request for Public Assistance Category A, which refers to debris removal.
“We appreciate the approval of Public Assistance Category B (Emergency Protective Measures) but believe that Category A (Debris Removal) is critical to ensuring the safety and recovery of our communities in the aftermath of the storm,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Hurricane Debby continues to bring severe weather conditions, including high winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding, posing a significant threat to public safety and infrastructure,” they added. They added Category A approval can “efficiently mobilize resources, coordinate debris removal efforts, and mitigate the risks associated with post-storm debris.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis has warned of expected flooding in northern Florida as former Hurricane Debby passes out of the state.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management, DeSantis said, “has completed 435 storm related missions and they are currently in the process of completing another 400 more.”
Additionally, said DeSantis, there are 250,000 Floridians without power, though more than 450,000 accounts are back on since the beginning of the storm.
The office of Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated a hotline to accept reports of “extreme price increases on essential commodities,” also known as “price gouging.”
Florida Department of Emergency Management (FLDEM) Executive Director Kevin Guthrie announced the hotline during an afternoon press conference with Gov. Ron DeSantis.
"After a disaster, scammers often attempt to take advantage of survivors. I encourage everyone impacted by Debby to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity,” Guthrie said.
The Sunshine State deployed rescue teams and personnel with needed supplies ahead of Hurricane Debby’s arrival, according to the office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) issued more than 670,000 water bottles, more than 287,000 ready-to-eat meals, more than 156,000 sandbags, more than 17,000 tarps, and 120 cots, all for use by residents in need and first responders.
The Florida National Guard mobilized up to 3,500 guardsmen and activated equipment for rescues, including nine shallow-water vessels, 10 all-terrain vehicles, two amphibious rescue vehicles, and seven search-and-rescue crews.
Vice President Kamala Harris has postponed a campaign stop planned for Friday in Savannah, Georgia, due to impacts from Hurricane Debby, officials with her presidential campaign said Monday.
Harris is embarking on a tour of battleground states this week, starting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday.
Ahead of that rally, she is expected to name her running mate from a list that includes Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
The deaths of at least four people, including two minors, have been blamed on the storm as Debby’s wind and rain blasted Florida.
The driver of a semi-truck died after his 18-wheeler veered off I-75 into the Tampa Bypass Canal on the morning of Aug. 5, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The truck was submerged in 14 feet of water and divers recovered the driver’s body from the cab, the agency said in a video posted to X.
"We send our condolences to the driver's family," Sheriff Chad Chronister wrote in the post. "Even the harshest conditions didn't stop our deputies working swiftly in this tragic situation."
Members of Facebook groups, such as the East Coast Equine Emergency and Disaster Response/ Fleet of Angels, are offering shelter to horse owners needing to evacuate their animals from the path of Tropical Storm Debby.
Dozens of horse owners in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina posted that they’re offering stalls or pasture space on high ground. Some offered RV hook-ups, too, or help transporting others’ animals.
Many made it clear that they’re offering the help for free.
President Joe Biden received a briefing on his administration’s ongoing response to Tropical Storm Debby, a White House Official said on Aug. 5.
“Our administration is in touch with officials from Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, and FEMA has deployed staff to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina to assist as needed,” a White House official told members of the press.
“We urge residents to remain cautious and listen to state and local officials.”
Linemen are working to restore power across Florida as Tropical Storm Debby creeps across the state after making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane.
More than 300,000 Floridians currently are without power, according to poweroutage.us. Most of the outages are concentrated in the Big Bend region and in north central Florida. But linemen already are climbing into bucket trucks and working, despite ongoing rain and wind, to fix lines affected areas.
Power companies across Florida, such as Duke Energy, had linemen staged to respond to the storm.
Debby is once again a Tropical Storm as it moves deeper into the Florida Panhandle, according to the National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) 11 a.m. advisory.
Maximum sustained winds have dropped to 70 mph, and the storm’s ground speed has slowed to 8 mph. Debby is expected to make a slow, northeast crawl over the next few days as a tropical storm, reaching North Carolina by Friday, Aug. 9.
Flooding and catastrophic rainfall continue to be among the most critical concerns.
A Waffle House in Alachua, Florida, remained open and at full capacity on the morning of Aug. 5 as the eye of Hurricane Debby spun no more than 30 miles away.
The Category 1 hurricane caused other restaurants to shut down, including Burger King, Zaxby’s, and Wendy’s.
Even before it evolved from a tropical storm, Hurricane Debby delivered immense amounts of rain and wind across the Florida Gulf Coast and inland counties over the past few days. It has caused flooding from a combination of intense rainfall and storm surge that has shut down roadways, and therefore businesses, across the state.
Hurricane Debby continues its push deeper into the Florida Panhandle after making landfall in the Big Bend region around 7 a.m. EDT on Aug. 5.
In its 8 a.m. intermediate advisory, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) stated Debby is “expected to bring major flooding over the southeastern U.S. during the next few days.”
Hurricane Debby had reached maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane.
TAMPA, Fla.—Officials told Floridians to stay off the roads as Hurricane Debby made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Aug. 5.
“Now that Hurricane Debbie is making landfall, the most important thing to do is to just protect yourself and protect your family,” said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during a morning briefing.
“Don't go out into the storm. Don't drive on the roads particularly when they're flooded.”