RICHMOND – As Tropical Storm Debby continues to impact the southeastern U.S., Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency for the state on Tuesday. This decision came after forecasters better understood the storm’s expected path through Virginia.
The National Weather Service in Wakefield has issued a flood watch for central, southern, and southeastern Virginia. The warning starts Wednesday night and lasts until midnight Saturday. Rain from the storm is expected to begin in the Tri-City area around 8 p.m. Wednesday.
According to the NWS, “Several rounds of heavy rainfall will result in widespread totals of 3-6 inches, with locally higher amounts possible. This will likely lead to flash flooding.”
Debby, which started as a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend on Monday. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain to parts of Georgia and South Carolina after moving back out to sea and then toward the coast. Areas between Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, could see up to two feet of rain, leading to catastrophic flooding.
At least five deaths have been linked to the storm.
In his emergency order, Youngkin urged Virginians to stay alert as the storm approaches. “There is the potential for strong winds, heavy rains, and possible flooding across regions of the Commonwealth,” he said. “It’s crucial that we work together and remain vigilant during these times to minimize the impact of the storm.”
The state of emergency allows Virginia to prepare and deploy resources quickly once the storm passes.
Youngkin mentioned that while Debby’s exact path is still uncertain, there could be “flooding, high winds, and potential storm surge associated with a tropical storm or hurricane.”
He also expressed concern for the neighboring southern states, saying, “Suzanne and I are praying for the residents of North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia as they endure the impacts of this tropical storm.”
State Attorney General Jason Miyares announced that price-gouging protections are in place, preventing vendors from unfairly raising prices on essential supplies during the emergency.
Debby is expected to move up the coast into New England over the weekend, although it will likely be weaker by then. Meteorologists predict that Debby could dump over 50 trillion gallons of rain on the eastern U.S., potentially making it the wettest storm in history, surpassing Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which brought 27 trillion gallons of rain to Texas.