NEW ORLEANS — Slow moving Tropical Storm Debby’s outer bands lashed Florida with rain and kicked up rough surf off Alabama on Sunday, prompting storm warnings for those states and killing at least one person.
The death in Florida was blamed on a tornado spawned by the storm, while a man disappeared in the Gulf of Mexico at an Alabama beach.
Coastal Alabama and parts of Florida, including the panhandle, were under tropical storm warnings. Forecasters discontinued a tropical storm warning for Louisiana after forecast models indicated Debby wasn’t likely to turn west.
Debby already has dumped heavy rain on parts of Florida and spawned some isolated tornadoes, damaging homes and knocking down power lines. High winds forced the closure of an interstate bridge that spans Tampa Bay and links St. Petersburg with areas to the southeast.
Residents in several counties near the crook of Florida’s elbow were urged to leave low-lying neighborhoods Sunday night because of the threat of flooding.
Debby’s center was essentially stationary about 110 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola, Fla., on Sunday evening.
While storm tracks are difficult to discern days in advance, a forecast map predicted that the storm would meander north as the week unfolds.
Debby’s top sustained winds were about 60 mph.
Chris Landsea, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center, said Debby is “a very unpredictable storm” and could become a hurricane.
A major concern will be flooding. Parts of Florida and southeast Georgia could receive 10 inches to 15 inches of rain, with some areas getting as much as 20, he said.
The Highlands County sheriff’s office said in a news release that several tornadoes moved through the area southeast of Tampa, damaging homes.
A woman was found dead in a house in Venus that was destroyed in the storm, sheriff ’s office spokesman Nell Hays said.
A child found in the same house was taken to the hospital. No further information was available on the child’s condition or either person’s age.
Authorities urged residents to leave low-lying neighborhoods in Franklin, Taylor and Wakulla counties because of flooding. Shelters were open in the area.
In Orange Beach, Ala., a 32-year-old man disappeared Sunday in rough surf kicked up by the storm, said Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Torry James. Further information wasn’t immediately available.
Near the mouth of the Mississippi southeast of New Orleans, Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser said officials were preparing to protect the main highway from tidal flooding.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal also declared a state of emergency to make it easier to send supplies and workers to areas that may need it.
Information for this article was contributed by Dee-Ann Durbin of The Associated Press.
Front Section, Pages 3 on 06/25/2012