Florida Declares Emergency as Hurricane Debby Approaches

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency and deployed 3,000 National Guard members in response to Hurricane Debby. The hurricane, which has intensified with sustained winds of 120 km/h, is expected to cause dangerous storm surges and catastrophic flooding. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that Debby, fueled by warm Gulf waters, could drop more than 20 inches of rain. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in several Gulf Coast areas, including Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Levy, and Wakulla counties. States of emergency have also been declared in Georgia and South Carolina as they prepare for the hurricane’s impact.