SRSO disaster team saddles up after Hurricane Debby landfall to help Lafayette County

After Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida's Big Bend Monday morning, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office deployed its Disaster Response Team to provide assistance.

Lafayette County Sheriff Brian Lamb personally requested the department's help, according to an SRSO release, and cited their beneficial efforts from Hurricane Idalia in 2023, saying "they were cutting down trees and chasing down and arresting criminals at the same time."

The Category 1 hurricane made landfall around 7 a.m. near the small fishing hamlet of Steinhatchee in southern Taylor County, which borders Lafayette County.

The SRSO says 10 deputies will spend a week near the city of Mayo in Lafayette County before rotating out with new deputies if needed. A convoy consisting of a bunk house, kitchen and backhoe skid were some of the items sent by the SRSO.

Is there another hurricane coming to Florida?

As eyes continue to watch Tropical Storm Debby, the National Hurricane Center also is now tracking a new tropical wave that's approaching the Caribbean Sea.

Chances for development over the next seven days are currently low – 30% – but the National Hurricane Center said "environmental conditions are expected to become more conducive for development later this week as the system moves across the western Caribbean Sea or the southern Gulf of Mexico," according to the 8 a.m. advisory.

More coverage of Hurricane Debby as it soaks Florida

Cheryl McCloud of USA Today Network contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: SRSO disaster team saddles up after Hurricane Debby landfall to help Lafayette County