Governor Ron DeSantis provided updates on Hurricane Debby during a press conference at the State Emergency Operations Center. He was joined by Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM). The hurricane made landfall as a Category 1 storm near Steinhatchee, Florida, at 7 am EDT.
In preparation for the storm, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-157 on August 2, amending EO 24-156 to declare a state of emergency for 61 counties. By 11 AM EDT, Hurricane Debby had been downgraded to a Tropical Storm and was located about 35 miles west of Lake City, Florida. It is expected to move slowly across northern Florida and southern Georgia over the next two days.
The hurricane's maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph, with further weakening anticipated as it progresses over land. Approximately 143,000 Floridians are currently without power; however, the state has already restored service to around 322,000 accounts.
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) emergency response teams have conducted preliminary assessments on more than 4,500 lane miles of state roads. The State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) is operational for residents seeking resources before and after the storm. They can reach out via phone at 1-800-342-3557 for assistance in English or Spanish.
FDEM is conducting daily calls with all counties to assess needs and ensure prompt response capabilities. Coordination efforts involve state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector partners.
The Office of Insurance Regulation has instructed property and casualty insurance companies in the projected path of Hurricane Debby to activate their disaster claims-handling procedures promptly.
Residents can follow FDEM on social media platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook for ongoing updates or visit FloridaDisaster.org/Updates for more information regarding Hurricane Debby.