The Deluge of Debby

– Aug, 7, 2024 –

Good morning! Here’s hoping you’re staying as dry as possible this week as Tropical Storm Debby dumps rainfall totals that are turning out to be epic, even if they’re not quite as “historic” as first feared. We have updates on the storm, of course, as well as a backgrounder about Savannah’s aging stormwater system. And for a bright spot among the clouds, we take a look at how a community stepped up when its pet shelter faced flooding.

Questions, tips or concerns? Send me a note at mary.landers@thecurrentga.org

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Just go, Debby

Tropical Storm Debby is turning out to be worse than most of us would like, but better than most of us feared. We’re still looking at memorable rainfall totals but not the more than 2 feet of rain that was a worst-case forecast. For county-specific updates on weather conditions, closings and other storm responses, click here. We’ll keep you in the loop as Debby slogs out of Coastal Georgia.

Debby brought a deluge, a phenomenon that was no surprise to those who have been studying tropical weather’s respond to climate change.

“Debby’s heavy rainfall is consistent with what we expect in a world warmed by human emissions of greenhouse gases,” Daniel Gilford, a climate scientist with Climate Central told The Current on Tuesday. “Global temperatures are rising with human-caused climate change, and as a results storms are generally raining more — colleagues have shown that today’s storms are 15-20% rainier than they would have been in a world without climate change, in part because a hotter atmosphere can hold (and then rain out) more water. While the specific number varies from storm to storm, based on past storms we say with certainty that a portion of Debby’s rainfall (up to 20%) can be attributed to climate change.

“We also have found that hurricanes are moving more slowly and lasting longer in our human-warmed world, both of which can cause rainier conditions for longer times over a single region,” he wrote in an e-mail.

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Pets take shelter from the storm

What do you do when 90 animals are housed at your flood-prone shelter and forecasters warn there’s potentially historic rainfall on the way? In Savannah, you put out an urgent call on social media for immediate foster care. The Current’s Serra Sowers followed how the community responded and how the Humane Society documented the process. It’s the feel-good story we all need after a trying week. Read the full story here.

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Savannah’s stormwater system tested

Like many old cities, Savannah harbors some creaky infrastructure. Its stormwater system may top that list. The city saw widespread street flooding in late July when a series of intense thunderstorms dumped double-digit rainfall on some neighborhoods over about a week. That was before Tropical Storm Debby was ever christened. With another double-digit week of rain forecast, The Current’s Mary Landers takes a look at how the coast’s largest city is responding.

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Also noted

• The Ogeechee and Savannah riverkeepers along with One Hundred Miles offer Coastal Georgia residents a way to report flooding at public, private, residential, or commercial property. Launched in September, the tool tracks changes in flooding, especially as it relates to development. The survey includes prompts for photos as well as a map to pinpoint the problem location. Organizers caution that the survey is in no way related to emergency response. View the survey: https://arcg.is/1WXC9O1.
• The Facebook page “My Georgia Coast” mourned the loss of a picturesque dead tree that stood upright on Jekyll’s Driftwood Beach until Debby arrived. One commenter noted, “We all fall down but it doesn’t make us anymore less beautiful.”
• The Georgia Conservancy is hosting the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative (SASMI) Summit. This interactive workshop will focus on the long-term resiliency and protection of the coastal salt marsh. Dates and locations are as follows (each workshop will follow the same format, so attendees are urged to choose whichever workshop is most convenient). More details here.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 13 from 4 – 6:30 p.m., Savannah
  • Thursday, Aug. 15 from 4 p.m – 6:30 p.m., Richmond Hill
  • Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 4 p.m – 6:30 p.m., Brunswick
  • Thursday, Sept. 12 from 4 p.m – 6:30 p.m., Kingsland
  • Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 4 p.m – 6:30 p.m. in Liberty County
  • Thursday, Oct. 24 from 3 p.m – 6 p.m., Darien

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