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Area prepares for worst of Fay but hopes for best
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| Emergency Management Specialist Shayne Morgan studies the projected path of Tropical Storm Fay in an 11 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center. JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter |
Melbourne area felt the brunt of storm with more than 25 inches of rain.
By MICHAEL MITSEFF
mmitseff@lakecityreporter.com
The story of Tropical Storm Fay is far from over but it will be remembered for its flooding rains.
The nearly stationary storm has dropped more than 25 inches of rain in the Melbourne area as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, with another 5 to 10 inches was expected before the storm began its projected northward movement Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service.
Tropical storm warnings remain in affect from Fort Pierce to the south stretching to Altamaha Sound on the north coast of Georgia, as the storm continues to produce high surf and beach erosion along the coast.
Sometime this morning Fay is expected to begin its projected westward trek, which may take it just south of Lake City sometime this evening if it follows its projected path, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Fay’s current maximum sustained wind speed was 50 mph but is expected to weaken as it moves westward.
The NWS in Jacksonville rescinded its Tropical Storm Watch for Columbia County but it is calling for Fay to drop up from 6 to 12 inches of rain for areas
along the projected westward path of Fay, with isolated areas possibly getting up to 20 inches.
“The biggest threat remains rainfall, and not that we couldn’t use the rain, we just don’t need it all in a very short period of time,” said Harvey Campbell, public information officer for Columbia County Emergency Management.
As Fay tracks through Columbia County, the storm is projected to have sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph based on NWS and NHC projections.
Campbell said that the rainfall associated with the slow-moving storm increases the possibility of flooding — Columbia County is currently under a flood watch.
“For a tropical storm that has been a rain maker predominantly, it certainly has held our attention longer than is typical,” Campbell said. “Currently there are no plans to open any shelters, but that’s always something that we will react to as the need arises.”
Schools remained open today in Columbia County due to the declining threat of Fay, but School Superintendent Grady “Sam” Markham said it is unclear if schools will open Friday. He said staff and Emergency Management officials will meet at
noon today to decide whether or not to end the first week of the 2008-2009 school year early.
The nearly stationary storm has dropped more than 25 inches of rain in the Melbourne area as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, with another 5 to 10 inches was expected before the storm began its projected northward movement Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service.
Tropical storm warnings remain in affect from Fort Pierce to the south stretching to Altamaha Sound on the north coast of Georgia, as the storm continues to produce high surf and beach erosion along the coast.
Sometime this morning Fay is expected to begin its projected westward trek, which may take it just south of Lake City sometime this evening if it follows its projected path, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Fay’s current maximum sustained wind speed was 50 mph but is expected to weaken as it moves westward.
The NWS in Jacksonville rescinded its Tropical Storm Watch for Columbia County but it is calling for Fay to drop up from 6 to 12 inches of rain for areas
along the projected westward path of Fay, with isolated areas possibly getting up to 20 inches.
“The biggest threat remains rainfall, and not that we couldn’t use the rain, we just don’t need it all in a very short period of time,” said Harvey Campbell, public information officer for Columbia County Emergency Management.
As Fay tracks through Columbia County, the storm is projected to have sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph based on NWS and NHC projections.
Campbell said that the rainfall associated with the slow-moving storm increases the possibility of flooding — Columbia County is currently under a flood watch.
“For a tropical storm that has been a rain maker predominantly, it certainly has held our attention longer than is typical,” Campbell said. “Currently there are no plans to open any shelters, but that’s always something that we will react to as the need arises.”
Schools remained open today in Columbia County due to the declining threat of Fay, but School Superintendent Grady “Sam” Markham said it is unclear if schools will open Friday. He said staff and Emergency Management officials will meet at
noon today to decide whether or not to end the first week of the 2008-2009 school year early.
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| Lake City declared in state of emergency | Fay's wrath finally felt |
