By Rich McKay and Tyler Clifford

ATLANTA (Reuters) – Tropical Storm Debby has inundated coastal Georgia and South Carolina with heavy rain on Tuesday, leading the National Hurricane Center to warn of potential “catastrophic flooding” in Charleston, Savannah, and other southeastern cities.

At least six fatalities have been reported in Florida and Georgia due to the storm, which is expected to linger over the southeastern and mid-Atlantic coasts for several days.

Rainfall Projections

The NHC indicates that Debby might bring historic rainfall totals ranging from 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 cm), with maximum amounts reaching 25 inches (63.5 cm), likely causing catastrophic flooding across the eastern half of South Carolina and southeast North Carolina through Friday. Both states have declared states of emergency.

The storm has sustained winds of 40 miles per hour (64 kph) and is moving northeast at a slow pace of 5 mph (8 kph), currently located about 50 miles (80 km) east of Savannah, Georgia. Heavy rainfall is predicted to generate flooding in parts of the mid-Atlantic through Sunday.

Impact on Local Areas

According to the National Weather Service, Savannah and Valdosta, Georgia, have already seen over 8 inches (20 cm) of rain, while Charleston and Hilton Head, South Carolina, reported between 10 and 12 inches (25 and 30 cm) of rain thus far, with more expected.

In historic Savannah, Rain fell steadily outside the Bellwether House bed-and-breakfast. General manager Victoria Hill expressed confidence in the establishment’s resilience, noting its construction in 1876. While many tourists canceled reservations due to the storm, some guests chose to stay.

Charleston Mayor William Cogswell warned that his city might see over 2 feet (61 cm) of rain before the storm passes and that storm surges of 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) would hinder drainage. Cogswell extended a citywide curfew until Wednesday morning, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

Concerns about the McGrady Dam breaching in Colleton County led local authorities to recommend immediate evacuation for nearby residents on Tuesday.

Debby initially made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend area on Monday, bringing 8 to 16 inches (20 to 41 cm) of rain to central Florida and resulting in five fatalities there and one near Valdosta, Georgia.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson predicted a “once-in-a-thousand-year” flooding event for the city, stating it could create islands within urban areas. Businessman Cedrick King from coastal Brunswick, Georgia, indicated his family was evacuating north to avoid the storm’s impacts.