CRYSTAL RIVER, FL (352today.com) – As Tropical Storm Debby churns in the Gulf of Mexico, coastal communities are preparing for the storm’s impact.
Forecasters from the National Hurricane Center issued warnings of “a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation” in a region that includes Hernando Beach, Crystal River, Steinhatchee and Cedar Key.
Evacuation orders
On Saturday, Citrus County Emergency Management issued a mandatory evacuation order for Evacuation Zone A, which includes all low-lying areas west of U.S. Highway 19 and some additional areas east of 19.
The county has also issued a voluntary evacuation for all low-lying areas and anyone residing in campers, tents, mobile homes, manufactured homes, or any structure not capable of withstanding sustained winds up to 60 mph.
The county opened two shelters Saturday evening.
|TRACKING DEBBY: Tropical Storm Debby expected to become a hurricane before making landfall Monday
Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast estimated 21,000 people live in the evacuation zone.
The county rescued 73 people from storm surge flooding during last year’s Hurricane Idalia which hit in late August.
Prendergast said that he hopes not to have a repeat with Debby.
“After the storm surge does come in, we simply don’t have enough first responders in our agency and among the other first responders in the county to go in and rescue everybody that might need to be rescued,” he said.
Flood preparations underway
Hurricane Idalia flooded the Citrus County community of Crystal River last year. The floodwaters significantly damaged several businesses in the tourist town known as the “Home of the Manatee.”
Crystal River Mayor Joe Meek says there are a lot of similarities between Debby and Idalia and he’s watching the forecast closely. In a Facebook post, he said high tide for Kings Bay is 5:58 a.m. on Monday.
The average elevation of Crystal River is 13 feet above sea level. The downtown business district which is surrounded by water from the river and Kings Bay is prone to flooding. Floodwaters have overrun streets at least three times in the last year including in December after a heavy rainfall.
Citrus County opened sandbag filling stations so residents in low-lying areas could get bags to help keep water from breaching their homes and businesses.
While the stations are scheduled to be self-serve on Sunday, you may find friendly neighbors willing to help on site. Before Idalia hit last year, volunteers from the United Way assisted in filling bags.
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 61 of Florida’s 67 counties, with the National Guard activating 3,000 guard members.
Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season after Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Chris, all of which formed in June.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.