NORTH CAROLINA — FEMA emergency teams are on the ground, along with state emergency officials as Tropical Storm Debby’s torrential rainfall continues to cover portions of the southeast region.
READ MORE: Debby: Rainfall expectations slightly decrease, more than 4 inches already fell in some areas
ALSO: Preparing for Debby’s approach
Governor Cooper held a press conference Wednesday and announced Biden signed a federal disaster declaration for North Carolina to help execute assistance and resources quickly, in the event Debby brings damage in her aftermath. It will cover 75% of funding needs to area counties.
Cooper signed a state of emergency Monday to activate emergency operations, which has led to deploying 350 soldiers and airman from the National Guard, as well as swift water rescue teams.
“Be prepared for a deluge,” he said, “more rain than most of us see in a month or even several months.”
The National Weather Service reported the southeastern region of the state has experienced anywhere from 2 to 7 inches of rain since Monday, with an additional 4 to 9 inches expected; it decreased slightly from earlier reports of expectations to be up to 16 and 20 inches. By comparison, Wilmington on average receives 8.16 inches of rain in the month of August, according to the National Weather Service Wilmington.
Cooper suggested residents pay attention to the state Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network system (FIMAN), which shares info on real-time information by utilizing data from 300 gauges placed at strategic points along waterways throughout the state. It also predicts rivers’ crests 48 hours ahead of waters rising. The National Weather Service has anticipated the Northeast Cape River will crest 18 feet Sunday.
“We expect the impacts to continue for several days,” Cooper added.
The governor reminded people in inland areas to also brace for potential flooding hazards. Debby is lingering at a 5-miles-per-hour pace, with her projected path, according to NWS’ 11 a.m. model, coming ashore in South Carolina either Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. Then she will move north through the middle of the state to Virginia. Her outer bands and storm surge will affect coastal communities in the tri-county region but also drop rain on farmlands, rural areas and towns not normally prepared for a storm of this caliber.
The storm had picked up wind speed to 60 miles per hour and and was located 55 miles from Charleston by press.
Cooper advised North Carolinians to pay attention to advisories and recommendations from local officials, which has primarily been: stay off the roads. It only takes 6 inches of water to stall a car or cause a driver to lose control.
Flooded roads already have been seen along Debby’s path in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, as close as North Myrtle Beach. Only a few miles northeast, areas of Brunswick County have experienced the most rainfall accumulation, leading to a few overwashed roadways from Ocean Isle to Bolivia along
However, a storm surge watch is no longer in effect in the county, with water expected to reach 1 to 3 feet instead of up to 4 feet.
“Now is not the time to see if your car floats because it doesn’t,” Cooper said. “It’s not safe to drive or walk through flood waters. Our Department of Transportation and our first responders will tell you that we’ve lost too many lives after these storms because of people trying to drive through or walk through water.”
NCDOT has 2,200 people on standby, with vehicles, clearing equipment, barricades, road closure and high-water signs ready to deploy.
The state’s emergency management director, Will Ray, indicated teams have been focused on the impacts of Debby since last Friday. Since fully activating its response this week, emergency operations have 17 swift water rescue teams staged across central and eastern portions of the state. Most are in the eastern area, Ray added.
“Components of North Carolina’s seven State Urban Search and Rescue task forces and hazardous materials regional response teams stand ready to also respond,” he said. “We are continuing to evaluate the potential flooding threat and identify additional search and rescue or swift water rescue capability that could be needed, either native to North Carolina or through partnership with other states and the federal government.”
Due to the signed state of emergency, authorization has been given for high clearance vehicles and emergency equipment that helps move resources and supplies. This has supported delivery of water pumps, meals, water, generators and sandbags to nine eastern counties.
The state is also prepared to provide added resources for healthcare infrastructure, via medical personnel, shelters or EMS response.
Tips or comments? Email info@localdailymedia.com.
Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our morning newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.
