Debby dwell updates: Five killed after storm makes landfall in Florida as hurricane

Charleston, South Carolina, mayor William Cogswell announced a curfew would go into effect for the city overnight, as Tropical Storm Debby is set to bring 10 to 12 inches of rain in the coming house.

Watch more of his remarks via WTAT.

The storm, now about 50 miles outside of Valdosta, Georgia, will bring winds of 45mph, storm surge, and 6 to 12 inches of rainfall across Florida and North Carolina through Wednesday morning.

Southeast Georgia and the Carolinas, meanwhile, can expect 10 to 20 inches of rainfall.

“This potentially historic rainfall will likely result in areas of catastrophic flooding,” the NHC warned.

North Carolina has declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Debby continues making its way north.

“As the storm approaches our state, please take precautions and stay safe,” North Carolina governor Roy Cooper wrote on X.

Tropical Storm Debby has now reportedly killed five people since making landfall earlier today.

A 19-year-old in Moutlrie, Georgia, died on Monday when a tree fell on the side of his house, according to Colquitt County officials, CNN reports.

Four others have died in the storm in car crashes and another falling tree incident.

Well this certainly wasn’t in the forecast.

Tropical Storm Debby, in addition to bringing heavy rains and flooding to the Gulf Coast of Florida, also blew 25 packages of cocaine onto a beach in the Florida Keys, according to Samuel Briggs II, of the Border Patrol.

The packages of drugs, marked with a red, X-like symbol, have a street value of over $1m.

Tropical Storm Debby may be moving out of the north of Florida and towards the southeastern coastal US, but it still leaves plenty of risks behind, according to the National Hurricane Center.

“Deadly hazards remain, including downed power lines and flooded areas,” the NHC wrote in an afternoon update. “Ensure generators are properly ventilated to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Exercise caution when using chainswas and power tools, and drink plenty of water to avoid heat exhaustion.”

Police in the city of Gulfport, Florida, near Tampa, are searching for Brian J Clough, 48, a local sailor whose boat was found sunken on Monday.

A local boater found the wreck and searched for Clough inside, but the man wasn’t to be found, though his dog was still onboard, according to Gulfport police.

“The Gulfport Police Department has checked with the local boating community but Clough has not yet been located,” the department told WFLA. “When weather conditions improve, additional resource will be used in the search.”