PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Heavy rains are expected in the region as Tropical Storm Debby continues her track up the East Coast.
Accuweather is forecasting as much as four inches of rain and thunderstorms at least over the next 24 hours as Debby passes by. MaryAnn Tierney, Regional Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Region 3, which includes Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania, says the key is staying informed.
“Downloading the FEMA app will give you access to a lot of preparedness information and also recovery information, things you can do after a storm,” she said.
Debby made landfall a second time in North Carolina early Thursday, bringing at least three reported tornadoes to the state. It first made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend earlier this week as a Category 1 hurricane.
Its heavy rains brought historic flooding to areas in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. The storm's intense winds left plenty of destruction in its path — knocking down trees and powerlines, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes in the dark.
At least seven people have died due to the storm.
Tierney advises residents who experience flooding on a regular basis to prepare by clearing gutters, basins, and drains. She says it's also important to stay in touch with public safety officials and heed their advice.
“Obviously, you can listen to KYW,” she said. “You can also monitor the National Weather Service Mount Holly web page. You can also in southeastern PA, sign up for Ready Notify PA.”
The National Weather Service recommends the following item for maximum weather readiness:
🎒 Backpack or storage tub to hold your supplies
💧 Bottled water, 1 gallon per person
🥫 Nonperishable food — and don’t forget the can opener
🍴 Cups, utensils, paper towels
🔦 Flashlight with extra batteries
📻 Battery-powered radio and NOAA weather radio
🧯 Fire Extinguisher
🏥 First aid supplies: bandages, ointment, disinfectant wipes, tissues
📚 Emergency reference materials such as a first aid book
🧻 Toilet paper and bags with ties, for personal sanitation
🧼 Personal hygiene items: deodorant, cotton swabs, feminine hygiene items, etc.
📝 Paper and pen/pencil
🃏 Cards or a game (to distract from the situation and alleviate stress)
😴 Sleeping bag or warm blanket, one for each person
👚 Seasonally appropriate change of clothes, plus jacket, hat, gloves and boots or sneakers for each person
🌂 Rain gear
🛠 Wrench or pliers
🎉 Whistle to signal for help
😷 Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air
🏕 Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
🗃 Important documents: ID, insurance details, banking information, wills, etc.
💵 Cash
And, if necessary:
🍼 Formula and diapers
🐕 Extra pet food