CLAY COUNTY — Tropical Storm Debby may be gone, but it’s still affecting Clay County.

According to the Division of Emergency Management, the north prong of the Black Creek is at 16½ feet “and is rising rapidly.” Moreover, it is projected to crest at 19½ feet early Tuesday.

The county said in a prepared statement, “We encourage residents who live near the creek to be vigilant, monitor the creek level, and be prepared to leave if necessary.”

Debby made landfall Monday in Taylor County at 7 a.m. It then started its slow trek across northern Florida and southern Georgia, bringing large amounts of rain to some areas.

While there were several reports of downed trees and power lines, the most significant wind and rain bands were north and south of the county as the bands seemed to spare Clay the brunt of its most damaging wrath.

In preparation, Emergency Management opened two general population shelters Sunday: Keystone Heights Elementary and Orange Park High. A special needs shelter was open at Lake Asbury Junior High. Those shelters were open for two nights. They closed the shelters on Tuesday.

The storm was forecasted to bring tropical storm conditions to Clay County later Monday before it exited the eastern coast near Savannah, Georgia, Tuesday.

County offices, the Department of Health Clay County, and Waste Management garbage and recycling services were closed on Monday because of the storm. All services, including libraries, senior centers and the Rosemary Hill Solid Waste Facility, resumed normal operations on Tuesday. Trash pickups will be delayed by a day, and crews will run on Saturday to finish routes.

According to the National Hurricane Center, there was a potential for as much as four to eight inches of rain in the county and tropical force winds for Doctors Inlet, Lakeside, Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace, Middleburg, Keystone Heights and Kingsley.

With that much rain and periods of wind gusts, Emergency Management Director Tim Devin and Sheriff Michelle Cook still urged residents to stay home and avoid large puddles of water, downed trees and power lines.

“I do want to make an appeal to everybody: Please stay off the roads,” Cook said. We’ve already had at least one call of a tree hitting an occupied vehicle. It’s just not safe out there. I want to encourage you to stay off the roads. If you have to drive and come up to an intersection where the lights are malfunctioning, please remember to treat it as a four-way stop as always.

“If you need anything, we are here to assist you. Just give us a call at (904) 264-6512, and of course, in case of emergency, call 911.”

Devin said the Emergency Operations Center has been activated, and the Emergency Management Call Center can be reached at (877) 252-9362.

“As always, thank you for providing us with the information to help everybody stay safe,” he said.

Devin said that after the rain stops, the runoffs from the surrounding areas will continue funneling into the St. Johns River and Black Creek.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration backed up Clay Emergency Management's assessment of the situation of the north prong of Black Creek. The organization said it is dangerously approaching the "Major" flood level.

Remember to follow claytodayonline.com and ALERTclaycountygov.com  for updates.