MIAMI - Tropical storm Debby drifted slowly toward Florida's Gulf Coast on Tuesday, threatening to dump another round of heavy rains on areas already reeling from flooding, US forecasters said.
Debby, which has been raking the coast with strong winds and rains since the weekend, is on a path to sweep across north-central Florida as it heads eastward to the Atlantic Ocean, where it is expected by Friday.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Debby was about 70 miles (113 kilometers) west of Cedar Key, Florida. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 miles (64 kilometers) per hour and was moving toward the east at three miles (five kilometers) per hour.
Parts of northern Florida were expected to receive a total of over two feet (61 centimeters) of rain. Some areas were due to get up to four feet (1.2 meters) of flooding caused by a storm surge and rising waters.
The storm also downed trees, upturned catamarans and drowned turtle nests along the Gulf, according to local media.
Authorities also closed several bridges and roads, including parts of Interstate 10, northern Florida's main interstate highway.
"Even though Debby continues to slowly weaken, coastal flooding will continue during the next day or two due to persistent onshore winds," the NHC said in a bulletin.
"The combination of a storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters during the next high tide today."
Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency on Monday as power outages and flash floods heralded the storm's approach.
President Barack Obama called Scott as he traveled on his Air Force One jet "to ensure the state had no unmet needs" as it responds to extreme weather and flooding from Debby, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
The president "expressed condolences" for the loss of life as well as extensive damage to homes.
Carney said federal emergency authorities would be in close contact with the state, and that the Obama administration "stood ready to provide additional assistance if necessary."
At least one woman was reported to have died in a tornado that local media attributed to Debby, and state authorities warned that more deadly twisters were possible.
Alabama search and rescue workers were also searching for a man who may have drowned in rough surf on Sunday, according to local media.
source: interaksyon.com
