Hurricane Debby causes severe flooding in Florida towns

Hurricane Debby causes severe flooding in Florida towns

STORY: :: Hurricane Debby causes damage and severe flooding in these Florida towns

:: August 5, 2024

:: Tampa, Florida

:: Lora Bevirt

:: @ErnieVanderwalt via X

:: Manatee County, Florida

The storm drained northern Florida and killed at least six people as the downgraded hurricane churned toward Georgia and the Carolinas, threatening a week of torrential downpours and flooding across the region.

The slow-moving storm plowed into Florida’s Gulf Coast around 7 am (1100 GMT) on Monday (August 5) morning as a Category 1 hurricane, making landfall near Steinhatchee about 70 miles (115 km) southeast of Tallahassee, the National Hurricane Center said .

The storm carried-force winds of up to 80 mph (130 kph) when it struck in the Big Bend region – where the state’s Panhandle meets its main north-south Peninsula – but speeds ebbed as Debby pushed over land.

Reuters was able to independently verify the location with the buildings and road layout matched the street view imagery of the area. Reuters was able to independently verify the date with the original file metadata.