Cooper warns of possible ‘deluge’ from Debby, Biden issues disaster declaration for NC

Adam Wagner

August 7, 2024 at 10:54 a.m.·2 min read

Gov. Roy Cooper warned Wednesday that people across North Carolina need to prepare for “a deluge” from Tropical Storm Debby as it approaches the state.

“A slow-moving tropical storm can sometimes be even more deadly than a quick-moving hurricane. That means even without the constant high winds, we must be on high alert,” Cooper said during a briefing Wednesday.

North Carolina has activated 350 members of the National Guard and deployed 17 swift-water rescue teams, Cooper and N.C. Emergency Management Director Will Ray said. President Joe Biden on Tuesday approved a request from Cooper for a disaster declaration ahead of the storm, White House officials announced.

Forecasters expect the storm to drop as much as 15 inches of rain in parts of Southeastern North Carolina, causing the National Hurricane Center to warn of the potential for “considerable flooding” in the Piedmont region.

The storm was south of Charleston early Wednesday morning and is expected to drift to sea before turning inland late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

“We expect this storm to continue its slow, gradual approach, bringing multiple days of heavy rainfall and the potential for widespread and even severe flash flooding,” Cooper said Wednesday.

Cooper reminded people that 6 inches of fast-moving flood water is enough to knock over an adult, while a foot is enough to carry a car away.

“Now is not the time to see if your car floats, because it doesn’t,” Cooper said.

The emergency declaration will provide federal funds including reimbursement for evacuation and shelter support for about half of the state’s counties along Debby’s projected track. Those range from Brunswick County in the southeastern corner to Moore County, then as far to the northwest as Guilford County.

Another 15 counties in the state’s northeastern and northwestern corners will be eligible to receive federal assistance for emergency protective measures they take against Debby under the disaster declaration. That includes Dare and Washington counties in the northeast, as well as Surry and Stokes in the northwest.

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