Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida near Steinhatchee around 7 a.m. EST on Monday, August 5, 2024, as a Category 1 Hurricane.
With sustained winds of 80 mph and the risk of severe flooding, Debby has already significantly impacted the region. TheNational Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued warnings of catastrophic flooding and potentially deadly storm surges.
Before making landfall, Hurricane Debby went through what is called “Rapid Intensification”, which occurs when a storm gains a significant boost in strength within a 24-hour time period. In order for a storm to qualify as “rapidly intensified”,its winds must increase by at least 35 MPH in 24 hours or less. Debby did just this from 2 a.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday.
Right now, the Gulf of Mexico is at near-record highs, which Fueled Tropical Storm Debby and strengthened it into a hurricane.
Heavy rainfall and a high storm surge are expected.
Heavy rainfall continues to pour, with high storm surges expected to affect coastal regions in Florida. Despite August just beginning, many areas in Florida have already received a month’s worth of rain.
Hurricane Debby is anticipated to move slowly over land, potentially dropping massive amounts of water wherever it passes. Total rainfall may be as high as 18 inches in localized areas. Between 6 and 18 inches of rainfall is possible in central and northern Florida.
Forecasters warn of a potentially deadly storm surge in Florida, with surges ranging from 2 to 10 feet in the Big Bend region, from the Tallahassee area down to Tampa.
Powerful winds and tornadic activity, with the potential for massive property damage, are also possible.
Tornadoes often accompany tropical storms and hurricanes, usually forming within the outer rain bands. They can develop quickly and they can occur with little to no warning. Last month, remnants of Beryl produced more than 50 tornadoes from Texas to the Northeast.
Stay indoors whenever possible and listen to local authorities.
Hurricane Debby has already caused widespread power outages, affecting more than 300,000 customers, according to PowerOutage.us.
These outages are impacting the Big Bend region, the same area hit by Hurricane Idalia 11 months ago.
Hurricane Debby Property Damage Claims
As with any powerful storm, property damage is expected to occur.
You only have one year to file a claim for hurricane damage in Florida.
If you were affected by Debby and are unsure whether or not you have damage, contact our legal team today, and we can help get your home inspected. If property damage is discovered, we can help you file your claim on time with your insurance company.
For help with a Hurricane Debby claim, fill out our contact form, or call us at 855-585-2997.
