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NOUS44 KLZK 181904
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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
200 PM CDT FRI MAR 18 2011

...THE FINAL DAY OF NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK 2011...

AS FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK COMES TO A CLOSE...THE NATIONAL 
WEATHER SERVICE INVITES YOUR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION. ALL THIS 
WEEK...THE SIXTH ANNUAL NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS 
WEEK...VARIOUS TOPICS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED.

TODAYS TOPIC IS FLOOD SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS. FLOODS HAPPEN...AND 
ON AVERAGE NEARLY A HUNDRED PEOPLE A YEAR ARE KILLED IN THE UNITED 
STATES BY FLOODING. GOOD PREPARATION ALONG WITH A KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT 
TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A FLOOD WILL INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF 
SURVIVAL. 

KEEP A MENTAL PICTURE OF WHAT AREAS AROUND YOU FLOOD. IF YOU SEE AN 
AREA FLOODED...CHANCES ARE THAT IT WILL FLOOD AGAIN. IF YOU HAPPEN 
ON A ROAD THAT IS COVERED WITH WATER...AVOID IT AND REMEMBER THAT 
LOCATION. MANY OF THOSE KILLED BECAUSE THEY DROVE INTO A FLOODED 
ROAD...DO SO AT NIGHT. 

SOME FLOOD SAFETY AND GENERAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TIPS INCLUDE...

...PREPARE A FAMILY DISASTER PLAN AND DISCUSS IT WITH FAMILY 
   MEMBERS. EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW WHERE TO GATHER AFTER A DISASTER 
   OF ANY KIND...FROM FIRE TO FLOOD...TORNADO TO EARTHQUAKE.

...FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GO IF ORDERED TO EVACUATE.

...MAKE A KEEP-IN-TOUCH ARRANGEMENT WITH RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.

...CHECK IF YOUR HOMEOWNERS POLICY COVERS FLOODING AND MAKE WHATEVER 
   AMENDMENTS TO YOUR COVERAGE THAT MAY BE NEEDED.

...KEEP INSURANCE POLICIES AND OTHER IMPORTANT PAPERS IN A SAFE 
   DEPOSIT BOX.

...HAVE A DISASTER KIT AND REMEMBER TO ROTATE OUT PERISHABLES. 
   ENSURE THAT THIS KIT INCLUDES FOOD...POTABLE WATER...AND 
   PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES. A BATTERY OPERATED RADIO IS ALSO A
   MUST HAVE DURING A DISASTER.

...IN THE EVENT OF A DISASTER...LISTEN FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION 
   SUCH AS EVACUATION ORDERS...SHELTER INFORMATION...OR BOIL ORDERS.

REFER TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AND THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 
AGENCY WEB PAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION. 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK IS AVAILABLE AT:

WWW.WEATHER.GOV/FLOODSAFETY

$$

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT...
TABITHA CLARKE, SERVICE HYDROLOGIST
SR-LZK.River@NOAA.GOV
501-834-0308