Tropical Storm Debby threatens to flood Florida with as much as 25 inches of rain
Karen Pennland and walks in the rain and wind from Tropical Storm Fay August 19, 2008 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Tropical Storm Debby has Florida, Alabama and Louisiana on storm watch as it lashed the Gulf coast with heavy winds and rain Sunday.
Tropical Storm Debby continued to pummel Florida with high winds and heavy rains on Monday, as one tornado-related death was reported in the state, the Associated Press reported.
Several of Florida's low-lying neighborhoods were flooded, and thousands of homes and businesses lost power as the storm continued to make its way along the Gulf Coast, according to the AP.
Governor Richard Lynn Scott declared a statewide emergency, and a tropical storm warning was in effect for most of the coast.
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A tornado related to the storm was responsible for a woman's death in the state. The twister also injured a child and destroyed homes in central Florida's rural Highlands County, an emergency management official told Reuters.
An Alabama man disappeared in rough surf on Sunday, and rescue officials are currently searching for him, according to the AP.
The storm is expected to move north slowly throughout the week, the National Hurricane Center forecasted on Monday, with as much 10 to 15 inches of rain expected in the state and as many as 25 inches in isolated amounts, Reuters reported.
"Tropical storm force winds, heavy rainfall and isolated tornadoes are the main concerns today," read the Florida Division of Emergency Management posting, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Rainfall amounts of 5+ inches today and tonight may lead to continued flooding for many areas of the state. In addition, locally heavy rainfall of potentially up to 10-20 inches through the next few days will continue to exacerbate flooding concerns of some areas."
Offshore drill operators like BP and Royal Dutch Shell also evacuated some of their production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico temporarily, Reuters reported.
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