000
NOUS44 KCRP 251255
PNSCRP
TXZ229>234-239>247-260100-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
655 AM CST FRI FEB 25 2011

...CONTINUING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN TEXAS... 
...THE TOPIC FOR TODAY IS FLASH FLOODING...

A FLASH FLOOD IS A RAPID RISE OF WATER ALONG A STREAM OR LOW-LYING
URBAN AREA. TROPICAL SYSTEMS...SLOW MOVING STORMS...OR STORMS
THAT REPEATEDLY CROSS THE SAME AREA CAN PRODUCE RAIN TOTALS OF 2
TO 3 INCHES IN JUST AN HOUR OR TWO. THE RESULTING FLASH FLOODS CAN
DEVELOP IN MINUTES...DEPENDING ON RAIN INTENSITY... DURATION OF
THE RAIN...SOIL CONDITIONS...AND TOPOGRAPHY.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THE POWER OF WATER. SIX INCHES OF
FAST-MOVING FLOOD WATERS CAN KNOCK AN ADULT OFF THEIR FEET. CARS
BEGIN TO FLOAT IN AS LITTLE AS 12 INCHES OF FAST MOVING WATER. 18
INCHES OF WATER WILL LIFT A PICKUP OR SUV. STATISTICS SHOW THAT
NEARLY THREE QUARTERS OF ALL TEXAS FLASH FLOOD DEATHS ARE VEHICLE
RELATED.

FLASH FLOODS ARE ALSO DECEPTIVE.  THE WATER IS USUALLY MOVING FASTER
AND MUCH DEEPER THAN IT APPEARS. FLASH FLOODS CAN HIDE TREE LIMBS
OR WASH AWAY THE ROAD SURFACE MAKING HAZARDS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE
TO SEE. 

WHEN FLOODING THREATENS...MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO...YOUR FAVORITE
LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION OR CABLE SERVICE...AND STAY
ALERT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF FLASH FLOODING.

HOW CAN YOU STAY SAFE WHEN FLASH FLOODING THREATENS?

AVOID LOW LYING AREAS THAT ARE PRONE TO FLOODING. 

DO NOT CAMP OR PARK VEHICLES ALONG STREAMS OR WASHES IN THREATENING
WEATHER.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARD TO RECOGNIZE FLASH
FLOODING. 

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A FLOODED ROADWAY...SIMPLY TURN AROUND DONT
DROWN.

IF YOU GET CAUGHT IN A FLASH FLOOD...YOU HAVE USED UP YOUR LAST
GOOD SAFETY RULE. YOU HAVE LITTLE OPTION BUT TO TRY TO MOVE TO
HIGHER GROUND IF YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

REMEMBER...IF YOU ENCOUNTER A FLOOD ITS BEST TO JUST TURN
AROUND...DONT DROWN! 

$$

MJG