Hurricane Debby Update- Time to Hunker Down

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​Hurricane Debby made landfall and is moving north. Assuming that the system doesn't stall, we expect the storm to leave our area later this evening. However, we do expect worsening conditions as the day continues. The total cumulative rainfall is expected to be in the 6 to 8-inch range. If the storm continues to slow down, we could see rainfall as high as 20 inches. Alachua County has experienced up to 5 inches of rain in the western portion of the county. Sustained winds are 10 to 20 mph with gusts of over 40 mph. We expect wind speeds to increase over the course of the day.

Multiple road closures have been reported due to downed trees and flooding.

Residents should stay safe and not leave their homes so that public safety and public works personnel can react to damage. Downed powerlines and trees are creating dangerous hazards. Please do not approach downed powerlines, and please report them to your utility company. Residents staying in shelters or have otherwise evacuated their homes are urged to remain in place until the storm has passed.

Learn more about staying safe after the storm.

If you feel you have a life-threatening or dangerous situation, call 911. For non-emergencies, call 352-955-1818.

Significant widespread power outages have also been reported. Find your provider to report power outages and view outage maps online.

If traffic signals are out of order, stop as you would for a four-way stop sign. Come to a complete stop at the marked stop line or before moving into the crosswalk or intersection.

Monitor the US National Weather Service website at weather.gov/jax for the latest storm information, including anticipated local impacts. You can find the latest National Weather Service briefing packet at https://tinyurl.com/NWSJAX.

To aid our residents as the storm approaches, Alachua County has activated the 311 Emergency Information Line (352-264-6557 if 311 is unavailable in your area). This is for questions and rumor control. If you have a true emergency, call 911.

Sign up for text alerts by texting the word ALACHUA to 888-777 to stay fully informed of any disaster-related information related specifically to Alachua County.

Information on shelters, closures, and other protective measures can be found at www.AlachuaCountyReady.com.

For more information, contact Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton at 352-264-6979 or [email protected]. ​

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