SOPCHOPPY, Fla. (AP) — Debby is drifting out to sea, but the once-large tropical storm is leaving behind flooded neighborhoods, washed out roads and a sopping mess across Florida.
The storm is being blamed for at least three deaths. More than 100 homes and businesses were flooded and officials are warning that the waters may not recede until next week in some places. The storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of customers, but most have had electricity restored by now.
In Live Oak, a small city in northern Florida between Tallahassee and Jacksonville, water reached the roofs of homes and completely submerged cars. Elsewhere, residents have been wading through stood several feet of water to checked out the damage to their homes. One man says the water came in so fast, he and his family were lucky to get anything out.
Florida emergency officials say they expect to be dealing with flooding for the next week.
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317-a-15-(Sam Kille (KIH'-lee), spokesman, American Red Cross)-"be for people"-American Red Cross spokesman Sam Kille says some people who had to evacuate ahead of Debby have returned home, but relief efforts are still needed in the aftermath of the storm. (27 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *317 (06/27/12)>> 00:15 "be for people"
192-w-29-(Tony Winton, AP correspondent, with Kelly Godsey, forecaster, National Weather Service)--Forecasters say Tropical Storm Debby might be gone, but flooding could still get worse. AP correspondent Tony Winton reports. (27 Jun 2012)
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318-a-15-(Sam Kille (KIH'-lee), spokesman, American Red Cross)-"of our volunteers"-American Red Cross spokesman Sam Kille says helping people in a time of need is always gratifying. (27 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *318 (06/27/12)>> 00:15 "of our volunteers"
316-a-16-(Sam Kille (KIH'-lee), spokesman, American Red Cross)-"amount of people"-American Red Cross spokesman Sam Kille says although Tropical Depression Debby has passed, much damage was left behind on Florida's Gulf Coast. (27 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *316 (06/27/12)>> 00:16 "amount of people"
193-a-09-(Kelly Godsey, forecaster, National Weather Service, in AP interview)-"significant river flooding"-National Weather Service Forecaster Kelly Godsey says many rivers in Florida are expected to flood, even though Debby is long gone. (27 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *193 (06/27/12)>> 00:09 "significant river flooding"
194-a-09-(Kelly Godsey, forecaster, National Weather Service, in AP interview)-"to 10 days"-National Weather Service Forecaster Kelly Godsey says it can take days for rainfall to create a flood threat. (27 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *194 (06/27/12)>> 00:09 "to 10 days"
APPHOTO FLGAI104: A home is inundated by floodwaters from Tropical Storm Debby in Lafayette County, Fla., on Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Debby destroyed homes and businesses, washed away roads and flooded neighborhoods in Florida before the once-large tropical storm drifted out to sea Wednesday, leaving behind a sopping mess. (AP Photo/The Gainesville Sun, Doug Finger) (27 Jun 2012)
<<APPHOTO FLGAI104 (06/27/12)>>
APPHOTO FLGAI107: Jarred Schreck, 12, second from left, and his neighbors Reba Hurst and her husband Wendell use a boat to get to their house inundated by floodwaters from Tropical Storm Debby in Lafayette County, Fla., on Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Debby destroyed homes and businesses, washed away roads and flooded neighborhoods in Florida before the once-large tropical storm drifted out to sea Wednesday, leaving behind a sopping mess. (AP Photo/The Gainesville Sun, Doug Finger) (27 Jun 2012)
<<APPHOTO FLGAI107 (06/27/12)>>
APPHOTO FLJAJ101: Clay County engineers and contractors inspect CR 218 west of Middleburg, Fla. Wednesday, June 27, 2012, after the road washed out overnight. Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby were the cause of the floods. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Will Dickey) (7 May 2012)
<<APPHOTO FLJAJ101 (05/07/12)>>
APPHOTO FLJAJ103: Natalie Bickford, left, reacts to the flooding of her neighbors' homes as she take a boat ride with her husband Mark Bickford, right, and Chad Mullen in the floodwaters of Black Creek Wednesday, June 27, 2012 in Middleburg, Fla. Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby were the cause of the floods. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Will Dickey) (7 May 2012)
<<APPHOTO FLJAJ103 (05/07/12)>>
