Tropical Storm Debby barrels toward Florida with potential recordsetting rains farther north

Tropical Storm Debby is rapidly strengthening as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida

Transcript

00:00Tropical storm Debbie rolling towards Florida. The system is expected to strike the Big Bend region, where the panhandle meets the peninsula.

00:09It is going to move very slowly across northern Florida and southeast Georgia.

00:15And the result of that is less going to be a wind event at that point than a rain event.

00:20It is going to drop a lot of rain across many parts of the state.

00:25About 10 million people in its path. More than 10 inches of rain in some areas expected, along with fears of life-threatening flash floods.

00:33Storm surge is potentially as high as 10 feet. More than 1,600 flights cancelled.

00:39You can prepare as much as you want. It just kind of depends on what happens.

00:43Workers in Jacksonville clearing potentially hazardous trees. Governor Ron DeSantis urging residents to be on alert.

00:50Most deaths from flooding are from individuals who are driving in flooded waters.

00:55It only takes one foot of moving water to move a vehicle.

00:58So please stay off the road if a flood watch or warning is issued in your area.

01:04President Biden has approved a disaster declaration for Florida.

01:08Georgia's governor activating emergency resources and a state of emergency declared in South Carolina.

01:14Faith Abubay, ABC News, Gainesville, Florida.

01:20ABC 7 Chicago Eyewitness News.