1 Killed, 4 Injured in Tropical Storm Debby's Current

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By Jessica Gertler

A Pike County family is grieving after they say Tropical Storm Debby killed their loved one and sent four other family members to the hospital.

Dorthy Tolbert says she fell to her knees yesterday when she found out five loved ones were swept away by Tropical Storm Debbie's powerful current killing one and leaving four with serious injuries.

A storm Tolbert never thought she'd have to weather.

"They were at the beach, and they were walking, and the tide came in and pulled them out," she says. "I think they panicked, because they can't swim real well."

Kimberly Walker, better known as Tracy, died in Tropical Storm Debbie's current in Saint Pete Beach, Florida. Tolbert says Kimberly's brother, Bee, and Tolbert's nephew Dwayne Walker are still in critical condition.

"I was devastated. I couldn't think. I couldn't eat. I can't sleep," she says.

Tolbert says her grandchildren Mia and Ebony, both Charles Henderson Middle School students,  are still in the hospital. She says Ebony is unconscious, and Mia is making a slow recovery.

"I talked to the mother this morning, and she says she's still swollen and in and out" Tolbert says.

Family friend Gloria Davis says the entire neighborhood is mourning.

"It could have been my kids. It hit me. It hit my heart," Davis says.

Tolbert is praying her loved ones pull through, but she says what hurts the most is she can't afford to make the trip to Saint Pete and be by their side.

"It's hard. It's hard. It's really hard," she says.

Tolbert says Ebony and Mia's parents arrived in Saint Pete Beach yesterday and haven't left the hospital.  She says they were supposed to come home from the family vacation today.

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