Tropical Storm Debby: IFAW deploys to South Carolina to assist emergency operations

Both Georgia and South Carolina have activated their National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC) MOUs, initially for Animal Search and Rescue (ASAR) and incident support. IFAW is a founding member of NARSC and is deploying to South Carolina to help in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). 

The role of the EOC involves coordinating government agencies, emergency services, public health, utilities, and nongovernmental organisations; monitoring weather reports and gathering data; requesting, managing, and allocating resources; issuing public warnings and alerts; supporting on-the-ground responders; documenting and reporting all actions, decisions, and resources; and coordinating recovery efforts. 

Though Debby has been downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm due to wind speed, the predicted rainfall levels still make this a treacherous and potentially deadly storm. Rainfall totals of 25 to 51 centimetres (10 to 20 inches) are a concern particularly in parts of southeast Georgia, the South Carolina coastal plain, and southeast North Carolina, with localised amounts of up to 30 inches possible through Saturday morning. Parts of central and northern Florida and central and northeast North Carolina may experience totals of 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches)—locally, up to 46 centimetres (18 inches). Already, rainfall has totaled 13 to 38 centimetres (5 to 15 inches) across Florida’s Big Bend region. 

As the storm travels north, strong winds and tornadoes are expected as well.