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Subscribe to RSSTropical Storm Debby has hammered more than 300 miles of Florida, where there have also been three reported tornadoes. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports.
Updated at 11:43 p.m. ET -- Tropical Storm Debby whipped Florida with bands of drenching rain Monday while its center was nearly stationary in the Gulf of Mexico. Its slow progress meant the most pressing threat from the storm was flooding, not wind.
Florida governor Rick Scott declared a statewide emergency, and a tropical storm warning was in effect for most of the state's Gulf Coast, as the storm parked offshore.
A tropical storm warning for the coast of Alabama was discontinued early Monday. Yet even with the storm's center far from land, it lashed Florida with heavy rains and spawned isolated tornadoes that killed at least one person. Another person was missing in rough surf off Alabama.
Residents in several counties near the crook of Florida's elbow were urged to leave low-lying neighborhoods because of the threat of flooding.
Offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf of Mexico are also evacuating more than 30 percent of production platforms and rigs that are in the path of Debby. The storm is moving slowly, allowing its clouds more time to unload rain.
Tropical Storm Debby is expected to move north throughout the week with as many as 15 inches of rain expected in the state. Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore reports.
The Coast Guard rescued a family Sunday, who were stranded on a small island on the northwestern Florida Gulf coast due to inclement weather caused by the storm.
Officials at the Coast Guard watch center in Mobile, Ala., received a call around 12:30 p.m. from a man reporting his family of five adults, four children and two dogs were stranded in a vacation house on Dog Island, south of Carrabelle, Fla.
Water was reportedly surrounding the house, and there was no way for them to evacuate to higher ground. The ship that brought them to the island would not return for them due to rough conditions.
Rescue crews from the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center deployed a helicopter to the family’s location. The crew hoisted and transported the family, including the dogs, to Carrabelle Airport. No injuries or medical concerns were reported.
'Heavy rain'
High winds forced the closure of an interstate bridge that spans Tampa Bay and links St. Petersburg with areas to the southeast. In several locations, homes and businesses were damaged by high winds authorities believe were from tornadoes.
Practically parked off Florida's Gulf Coast since the weekend, Debby raked the Tampa Bay area with high wind and heavy rain Monday in a drenching that could top 2 feet over the next few days and has already led to flooding.
Weather.com severe weather expert Dr. Greg Forbes warned that Debby could spawn isolated tornadoes in Florida through Monday.
A tropical storm warning remained in effect for the Florida Gulf Coast from Mexico Beach in the Panhandle to Englewood, south of Sarasota. "Storm surge flooding is also a significant threat along the Florida Panhandle coast and the western coast of Florida since Debby's circulation is embedded in a rather large wind field," Weather.com reported.
Brad Mcclenny / The Gainesville Sun via AP
Cedar Key Fire Chief Robert Robinson walks on a section of a floating dock that broke loose during a storm surge from Tropical Storm Debby in Cedar Key, Fla., on Sunday.
Forecasters said late Monday that the storm was still in the Gulf of Mexico, 35 miles south of Apalachicola, with sustained winds around 45 mph. It was moving northeast at 2 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. The forecast map indicated the storm could inch forward through the week, eventually coming ashore over the Panhandle. However, a storm's path is difficult to discern days in advance.
Underscoring the unpredictable nature of tropical storms, forecasters discontinued a tropical storm warning Sunday afternoon for Louisiana after forecast models indicated Debby wasn't likely to turn west. At one point, forecasters expected the storm to come ashore in that state.
"There are always going to be errors in making predictions. There is never going to be a perfect forecast," said Chris Landsea, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center.
The Highlands County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that several tornadoes moved through the area southeast of Tampa, damaging homes.
Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Nell Hays said a woman was found dead in a house in Venus that was destroyed in the storm. A child found in the same house was taken to the hospital. No further information was available on the child's condition or either person's age.
Marina's roof torn off
Authorities urged residents to leave low-lying neighborhoods in Franklin, Taylor and Wakulla counties because of flooding. Shelters were open in the area.
Wind tore the roof off a marina in St. Pete Beach, and a pier was heavily damaged, said Tom Iovino, a Pinellas County government spokesman. He said no injuries were reported.
In Orange Beach, Ala., a 32-year-old man disappeared Sunday in rough surf kicked up by the storm, a Coast Guard official said. Further information wasn't immediately available.
As of Sunday, 23 percent of oil and gas production in the region had been suspended, according to a government hurricane response team. Employees have been evacuated from 13 drilling rigs and 61 production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.
The storm was not expected to result in higher oil and gas prices.
"It's largely a non-event for oil," said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service.
Weather.com, msnbc.com staff and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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- Slow-moving storm Debby drenches Florida
- Calif. teacher, 4 students arrested over alleged hazing
- Police officer shot dead at jazz concert in Denver park
- Video: Florida residents take golf carts to the streets
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Leave a Comment:
The oil price information service?...whats that another czar? and who ya tryingto kid anyway with this crap? gas will go up yet again, any excuse to gouge people at the pump. the price of oil has almost become a secondary consideration when it comes to the cost of gas, its the 4th of july weekend coming up, if it wasn't for this storm you know damn well they would have come up with yet another reason.
this is merely one more thing that happens when people overlook the simple fact that when you devalue the dollar everything costs more.
good luck and be safe to those along the coast.
It is clear to see that Americans are just too dumb to keep a democracy. The other day they reported a 'glut' of gasoline that is very large, at worst this event would reduce the glut, not create shortage. If gas prices do shoot up again, be sure it's all greed and politics. there is no logistical reason for gas to go up. but fortunately for the oil companies, America will believe anything Fox news tells them.
"The oil price information service?...whats that another czar?"
The idiocy associated with that joke, on so many levels, automatically makes anyone who reads your comment infinitely stupid.
OPIS is a private company that provides oil and fuel prices to industry.
"this is merely one more thing that happens..."
The only thing happening here is you imagining crap.
watch and see what happens.
First Debby did Dallas, now Debby Blows Florida.
next: That'sF'inCrazy Blows His Boyfriend
BAAAAAAWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, now THATS funny , great job fincrazy.....you may have a cookie.
not if the storm hopped out the water to play with texas, by the looks of it the storm doesn't even look like a texas hit,then again the storm is still playing in the water so anything's possible for another direction change.
Arrrr
Stay safe to the people in the area and to the oil companies,,,I guess your smiling from ear to ear!!!! Now you have an excuse to jack the price of gas up and screw up everyone's 4TH!!! BASTARDS!!!
Time and time again, the media, when reporting about Florida, refer to it as "the sunshine state"! Although it's sunnier than most, that label is an euphemistic creation of that state's tourist bureau. Far and away, the sunshine state is Arizona -- far more sunshine than Florida and more than any other. Let's drop this inappropriate and misleading label.
EEEEEK.......oh no....!! ....not an "euphemistic creation" ....surely sir you jest.....:)
Yeah you are right, but you Arizonan's have no water or beach to go with the sunshine get back on your horse and ride into the sunset, your burning daylight.
I just moved to Florida's Gulf Coast in January from Seattle. And, I have to admit yesterday was a fascinating and terrifying day. The 12 inches of rain was annoying, and so was the flooding and tornadoes that were spawned from the storm cells blowing on shore........ But, today (although) still windy the sun was shining bright and the warmth of Florida was here. Still love it here.
Amazing to me that I used to think it could really rain in Seattle........the rain in Florida yesterday made Seattle's "drizzle" look like nothing.......
Actually Iraq has way more sun, why dont we call that the state of sunshine lol
I was born & raised in FL & have more sunshine then I'll ever need. Be damned if I'd want to live in the desert. FL is a beautiful state.
the partly cloudy state with scattered thunderstorms state and hurricane prone state would not fit on the license plate.....perhaps the tropical storm state
I like it!!! :)
We could always use one more tag and the proceeds could go to help anyone dealing with storm damage.
http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/specialtytags/
Here's how to do it although we have to wait two more years before the state will allow the creation of any new ones.
http://www.flhsmv.gov/specialtytags/SLP.html#1
The roof on our building started leaking last night into my place and at least two other units. We've just finished getting our place back together from a flood caused by a broken pipe in my neighbor's place a couple of weeks ago and I'm tired. Stay safe everyone.
"The Sunshine State" is Florida States motto so that is why they refer to it as "the Sunshine State"
My dogs want to take a walk but not in the rain, they are not happy : (
I had a dog who used to go to the back door every morning, and if the weather wasn't up to her standards (Sunshine), she'd turn around with a "screw that, I ain't going out in that mess" look on her face.
my dogs don't like to walk in the rain either, but they use a wee-wee pad ;) has being rainy for since wednesday.
Alabama man missing while surfing? I don't know if it's just me but, stay out of the ocean during a tropical storm!
Somehow, I imagine that the missing Alabama man's last words were, "y'all watch this!"
Hea, Schoolyard, Do not expect too much out of Alabama, after all they invented the toothbrush anywhere else it would have been called the teethbrush.
I believe, sir, that your comment is offensive. Alabamma is a very good place to live. As anywhere, there are those people like to point out as typical residents, in the negative sense. We are also the home of technology, space work, the arts, literature, and, in spite of what one might hear, decent education. Is it perfect? No. Do we have hillbillies and such who lack certain physical attributes? Sure! So do at leat 49 other states. Please be kind in your comments. There is no need to be rude. Thank you.
Maggie, you need to learn how to spell your own states name, go brush your tooth.
You truly sound ignorant - a typo in spelling is not exactly earthshattering - however, if it makes you feel better to belittle others, have at it. We Alabamians have thick skin. Enjoy your self-perceived superiority and judgemental attitude. It will come back to haunt you at a later time.
@maggie- Don't let 9fingers get to you. You can guess where his other finger is. :)) I have been to Alabama and it is a very beautiful state. Everything, and I mean everything is green and lush. The shopping there is great and some real nice people.
Amazing to me how people can turn a big storm story in to a bash the South comments, but some will also have some snark for fire ravaged Colorado folks too. :(
ellen
"Alabama man missing while surfing? I don't know if it's just me but, stay out of the ocean during a tropical storm!"
But on the Gulf side the only time we have fun waves is when there is a Tropical storm or hurricane. The trouble is sometimes you get some pretty fast moving currents during these events.
My Weather station reported a 67 mph gust this morning at 3:24 and alomst 10 " of rain... I am ready for this to be over.. but it looks like we are in for more today.
I suppose the price of everything will go up now. Even the price of Columbian coffee. Not that TS Debby has anything to do with it, it's just that corporations will use any excuse to increase their profit margins.
More global warming. Just like al gore said. Hear that florida. Just like al gore said. Wild fires, tornadoes, sea level rise, the melting of the polar ice caps, destruction of a lot of wild life on land and sea. And all happening simultaneously. But why can't florida 15 inches of rain fall on the wild fires in utah & colorado. Global warming doesn't work that way.
Global warming is not causing the lack of upper winds which have made the storm almost stationary and thus a heavy rainer. It's called weather....it is temporary and local.
I lived in Florida for over 20 years, in the southern part (anyone remember Ft Lauderdale springs breaks?) I do haha. However, back to the issue at hand. I am so sorry for what the Floridians are going through - my brother and his family live on Lake Kissimmee in between Vero beach and Kissimmee/St Cloud. Here in Alabama, we would love to have some of the rain, none of the other tyvm. We are in drought conditions and looks like no change for a long time. Guess we never seem to get what we really need, like moderation in weather. It's either too much or too little. Please pray for those people affected by this, even (or more especially) the ones who lost their lives due to stupidity.
Aye! Spring breaks in Fort Liquerdale, now there was a tad of enjoyment matee. But, just as good times have gone, so have all the Floridians. And with Chief Osceolas granddaughter signing peace with the U.S., there is no more hope for that state. But this tis no hurricane. That once great state has not had a real hurricane since 1965. I know because I was there. What they have now is nothing but a kiss of the wind. And if people arr going to be stupid, I don't even think a prayer will not help them. Afterall, over two/thirds of what is left for a population in that State of Florida is stupid.
"That once great state has not had a real hurricane since 1965."
Wrong!!
I'm a Floridian. Capt. Kidd you are so wrong, wrong, wrong! Mention Andrew, which hit Dade County in 1992, and you'll get an earfull.
early start in hurricanes - we're still in june but now past D.
WE JUST GOT BACK FROM OUR CRUISE ON THE BAHAMA CELEBRATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THE WEATHER WAS LOVELY , SERVICE WAS FOR ROYALTY , AND THE FOOD WAS WORTH FIGHTING FOR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AFTER ALL THE FUN , FLORIDA GETS HIT BY A TROPICAL STORM. '' LIFE IS GOOD IN AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lol....teethbrush and 'go brush your tooth you guys are nuts !
it's Jim Cantore's fault again :(
look boys and girls,i know its bad,but we need the rain.its been drought for the 8yrs or so!i just hope and pray it doesnt hurt anyone else!And yeah,i live pretty close to where she is coming to,right in the heart of the "Big Bend",i hope all you guys stay safe!!!and us too!
The storm is not expected to result in higher oil and gas prices. "It's largely a non-event for oil," said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service. This statement is just one of many (for those who have been paying attention to statements that come out such as this one) that serves to be a signal to all the Wall St. commodities traders to give the American gas/oil consuming public its continued break on gas/oil prices. Just as rap artists send out signals in their songs to rival rap artists and the gangs in the neighborhoods where they grew up. That now they have ''made it'' in the music business and I have all this money I can funnel money to my homies in the hood and take control of the drug scene and make even more money. Law enforcement wont do anything because its perpetuating the subjugation of the minorities who are the overwhelming population in urban population centers. This in turn leads to white domination economically over them and promotes a continuing of the economic disparity that has gone on for decades between whites and minorities in the United States.
we have had 2, 5 gallon buckets full of rain. I keep reading the news reports and they say 3-5 inches and maybe 6 inches in some reports, we have had well over that . We need it though, thats the eco system here, people need to stop complaining or move to their favorite environment. Oh wait most humans will complain there too, about something.........any day now,,,,Jesus is coming like the days of Noah....forgive us we know not what we do...Father of grace and truth Son =One
Hey, here in Lake Mary, FL. Just poked my head outside and noticed; it's still raining...
I'll report back later but my bet is more rain with a random thunder shower and more rain.
Bless those involved in the storms and that they will be safe.
This is not a hurricane!! Florida has not really had one good storm of a hurricane since 1965. These little tid bits of wind are nothing. Heck in 1926, Florida had a good kick of a storm; 1965 we were left underwater; and you call this minor gust of wind, "a hurricane". Face it, you're all a bunch of northern scalawags, yankee carpetbaggers, foreign gypsies and homosexual freaks that have no concept of reality. May you all be washed away into the Tampa Bay for the sins you have bestowed upon the land of Chief Osceola.
Capt. you must be talking about the west cost of Florida... there was that one little blow called Andrew.. remember that one???
Charlie wasn't very kind, either.
Wilma was a big bitch, she was still in the gulf when it hit the Atlantic. Hurricanes are always worse than himmicanes.
I was thinking about Wilma after I wrote that. Here's some info on them.
http://www.floridadisaster.com/hurricanes.html
When is himmicane season anyway??? ☺
When you get a divorce and have to let off steam, that is usually all you have left anyway.
1992 ANDREW category 5 many people lost their homes in Homestead many weeks without electricity who is the idiot that said we did not have a hurricane since 1965…. 2005 we had 2 category 3 one of them was katrina
Here's to all the States up North. Even tropical depressions can spoil your plans. Make sure all trees are trimmed away from power lines. Make sure drainage ditches are clear and can handle the water flow. Make sure "EMA" is notified "BEFORE" the Damn thing gets there.
Now, Debby is more than likely going across Fla. into the Atlantic. From there, y'all are in its cross hairs. Pay attention this time around. These things don't play well with others.!!!
I hope it doesn't cut across FL. I really, really, REALLY hate riding to work in the rain. Bah!
Here in western colorado we would like to meet debby, come see us.