Debby live updates: 2 killed after storm makes landfall in Florida as hurricane

President Joe Biden was briefed on his administration’s ongoing response to Tropical Storm Debby Monday morning, deploying FEMA to states affected by the storm and remaining in contact with governors.

Biden already approved Florida’s request for an Emergency Declaration on Saturday. Rescue personnel will bring meals and clean water to those in need.

FEMA staff are being deployed to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina to assist with ongoing needs as well.

The driver of a semi-truck was found deceased inside the cab of the truck on Monday afternoon after he veered off the road and into a bypass canal on I-275 in the early hours of the morning.

“We send our condolences to the driver’s family,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “Even the harshest conditions didn’t stop our deputies working swiftly in this tragic situation.”

The driver’s death is the second one to be confirmed in Florida amid the tropical storm.

A 13-year-old boy died after a tree fell on a mobile home in Levy County, Florida in the middle of Hurricane Debby.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with this family as they deal with this tragedy. We encourage everyone to use extreme caution as they begin to assess and clean up the damage. Downed powerlines and falling trees are among the many hazards. One life is too many. Please be safe,” Sheriff McCallum said in a statement.

No other injuries were reported.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced they successfully rescued two boaters who were adrift on Sunday in the middle of Tropical Storm Debby.

On Saturday, the two boaters headed out from Key West, Florida to sail to Tarpon Springs, Florida. But lost their sail while 73 miles off the coast.

A friend on land contacted the Coast Guard after the boaters missed their check-in.

“Some of the most important factors in any search and rescue case is accurate information and safety equipment,” said Lt Commander Christopher Hooper, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard District Seven.

“We received an updated satellite position from the boaters’ friend, which led to them being successfully located. This rescue was a collaborative effort between District Seven and Sector St. Petersburg while Tropical Storm Debby crossed the region.”

The boaters were rescued as low visibility and 50-knot winds pounded the area. Seas were approximately 15 to 20 feet.

No injuries were reported.

The National Hurricane Center downgraded Debby from hurricane to tropical storm status late Monday morning.

With maximum sustained winds of approximately 70 mph, Debby no longer qualifies as a hurricane. But that does not mean the storm’s strength should be taken any less seriously

Debby still brings threatening storm surges, flooding, surf swells and flash flooding to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

The National Hurricane Center said the storm would weaken further in the next 48 hours.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order deploying the state’s national guard on Monday before Hurricane Debby hits the Peach State.

At least 2,000 guards will be utilized in preparation, response and recovery efforts.

Hurricane Debby, which is expected to downgrade to a tropical depression is a slow-moving storm bringing powerful winds and potentially historic rainfall to Georgia.

The power outage online tracker says that most of the customers affected live in Taylor, Madison and Jefferson Counties in Northern Florida. More than 34,000 people living in those areas do not have power.

Other counties like Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette and Dixie are also being harshly impacted.

Residents in Steinhatchee, Florida, which flooded during Hurricane Idalia, spent Sunday moving items to higher ground ahead of Hurricane Debby making landfall on Monday morning.

“I’ve been here 29 years. This isn’t the first time I’ve done it. Do you get used to it? No,” Mark Reblin, a resident told The Associated Press, as he moved items out of the liquor store he owns.

“Right now, we are trying secure everything from floating away,” said Sheryl Horne, whose family owns the Shell Island Fish Camp along the Wakulla River in St Marks, Florida, where some customers moved their boats inland.

The Big Bend region was hit last year by Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane.

“I am used to storms and I’m used to cleaning up after storms,” Ms Horne said.