No flooding has hit Macon, but Debby is causing historic rainfall elsewhere in Georgia

As Tropical Storm Debby makes its way through Georgia, the threat of heavy rains and potential flooding remains real. The storm has already caused at least five deaths since slamming into the Florida coastline as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday morning.

The Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Agency said the system brought rain Monday afternoon and will continue through Wednesday, bringing heavy rain, localized urban flooding, and damaging wind gusts. It stated the storm will most likely move slowly which increases the chances of flooding.

Over the last 12 hours, the Bibb County area has gotten less than half an inch of rain. Up to 7 inches is forecast for the next two days. County officials say so far there has been no impact to local roadways due to the storm.

Gov. Brian Kemp on Saturday issued a state of emergency for all 159 counties in Georgia because of the storm in the Gulf of Mexico.

Debby is predicted to cross Georgia and South Carolina, before heading back out to sea, where it could absorb even more moisture before making a second landfall in North Carolina later this week.

The Hurricane Center predicts a storm surge of up to 4 feet on the Georgia and Carolina coasts by midweek after Debby moves offshore. The governors of those states declared emergencies, and officials in cities such as Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C., issued curfews to keep people off flooding streets overnight.

As of 5 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Debby was located inland over southeastern Georgia. Debby is moving toward the northeast near 7 mph. The NHC said a slower motion toward the east and then north is expected through Thursday night. On the forecast track, the center of Debby is expected to move offshore the coast of Georgia later today, drift offshore through early Thursday, and then move inland over South Carolina on Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast on Wednesday and Thursday while Debby drifts offshore.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Altamaha Sound, Georgia to South Santee River, South Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline. For a depiction of areas at risk, see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic.

This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.

As part of its preparations, Georgia Power said it has mobilized additional staff to respond to potential outages and damages to its system. The company said it has relocated crews to specific sites that pre-position restoration workers, equipment and supplies near areas of anticipated impact.

It also deployed its Mobile Command Center, a tractor trailer which offers additional coordination capabilities during major weather events, to the southern part of the state. It said these steps help the company to restore power more quickly and efficiently for its customers as soon as weather conditions allow.

Georgia Power is asking customers to be aware that hurricanes have the potential to cause widespread power outages and dangerous conditions. Emergency plans should be finalized, including a way to stay informed before, during and after the hurricane.

Georgia Powers has a power outage map for residents to stay up-to-date regarding outages in their area.

The company also gave safety tips on what to do before, during and after a storm:

Before a Storm: Stay aware, heed advice from officials, and check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. Check your emergency kit and family plan. Unplug major appliances and charge cell phones in case you lose power.

During a Storm: Take safe shelter inside a sturdy building away from windows and doors. Avoid contact with conductors of electricity - appliances, metal objects and water.

After a Storm: Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire, including telephone or TV wires that touch a power line. Never pull tree limbs off of power lines yourself or enter areas with debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in wreckage. Customers should call 911 or Georgia Power immediately if they see a fallen or low-hanging power line.

Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. Seventeen to 25 named storms are expected before the season ends in late fall. In July, Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded before it struck Texas at Category 1 strength, resulting in at least 23 deaths, according to officials, and leaving parts of the state without power for days.

To report any flooding, call the Macon Water Authority at 478-464-5600.

This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 8:31 AM.