State of emergency declared in Virginia ahead of Tropical Storm Debby

NORFOLK, Va. — Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in anticipation of Tropical Storm Debby’s arrival in the state.

Debby is expected to continue up the Atlantic Coast for the remainder of the week after making landfall in Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday. It has since been downgraded to a tropical storm.

The storm’s remnants are expected to reach Virginia late Thursday night and early Friday, with rainfall continuing through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

NWS estimates Hampton Roads will see between 4-6 inches of rain from Tuesday to Sunday morning. South-central Virginia is expected to see the worst of it with 6-8 inches of rain.

Flash flooding is “possible” Wednesday afternoon through Saturday, along with further risks of tropical storm force winds, dangerous rip currents and tornadoes, according to a NWS briefing issued Tuesday morning.

“As we prepare for Tropical Storm Debby, I urge all Virginians and visitors to stay informed, follow local emergency guidelines, and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their families and communities. There is the potential for strong winds, heavy rains, and possible flooding across regions of the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a release. ““It’s crucial that we work together and remain vigilant during these times to minimize the impact of the storm.”

Youngkin’s emergency declaration comes just hours after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper did the same. Declaring a state of emergency allows the state to mobilize additional resources and equipment to respond to the storm.

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