Hurricane Idalia had caused damage to several areas in South Georgia around the same time last year. Now, Tropical Storm Debby is predicted to affect those same regions.
Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz warns that parts of South Georgia could face unprecedented levels of flooding due to Debby. The storm could result in 10-20 inches of rainfall by the time it passes, which could be a historic amount of rain for this region.
Although Debby is currently classified as a tropical storm, it has the potential to intensify into a Category 1 hurricane before it reaches the Big Bend area of Florida.
The weather system is expected to make its way towards South Georgia by Monday or Tuesday.
Ahead of the storm, Gov. Brian Kemp has already taken action by issuing a state of emergency.
Valdosta is anticipated to be one of the areas that will be affected.
Valdosta experienced significant damage last year when Hurricane Idalia passed through the area around the same time.
During the aftermath of the disaster, the city faced a major power outage with almost 97% of the area left without electricity. Moreover, the streets of the city were blocked due to the presence of fallen trees and branches, making it difficult for people to move around.
Samantha Medrano described the situation as intense, unlike anything she had seen before in Georgia. She stated that they had been without power for approximately eight hours when interviewed by Channel 2’s Jorge Esteves.
Valdosta announced on its Facebook page that it would be closing city offices on Monday as a precautionary measure in anticipation of the storm.
The city has urged people to complete their preparations and ensure that their phones and electronics are charged, and they have multiple ways to receive alerts and notifications. As per the city’s recent post, it’s the right time to take these precautions.
