Tropical Storm Debby rains misery on flooded Florida
Baku, June 28 (AZERTAC). Tropical Storm Debby weakened as it drifted ashore on Florida's Gulf Coast on Tuesday, dumping more rain on flooded areas and sending thousands of people fleeing from rising rivers.
After stalling in the Gulf for two days, the large and ragged storm finally began moving eastward. The center crossed the shore late Tuesday afternoon near Steinhatchee, in the Big Bend area where the Panhandle joins the peninsula.
Most of the thunderstorms and rain were northeast of the storm center and had already dumped 2 feet of rain over parts of Florida.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said Debby could bring another 4 to 8 inches of rain - and possibly tornadoes - to north Florida and southeast Georgia in the next two days.
Debby's top winds weakened to 40 miles per hour (65 km per hour), just over the threshold to remain a tropical storm. It is expected to weaken further as it moves inland but could strengthen again into a tropical storm as it crosses into the Atlantic Ocean, the forecasters said.
Emergency managers in Pasco County on Florida's central Gulf Coast ordered a mandatory evacuation for 14,000 to 20,000 people living between the Anclote and Pithlachascotee Rivers. The Anclote rose from 9 feet before Debby's approach to more than 27 feet, well above major flood level, said Pasco County spokesman Eric Keaton.
Water was ankle-deep to head-high in the evacuation area. Emergency crews had to use boats to reach stranded residents in some areas, and 106 Pasco County homes had been damaged.
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