000
NOUS42 KTAE 051015
PNSTAE
FLZ007>019-026>029-034-061100-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
515 AM EDT TUE FEB 5 2008

TODAY'S TOPICS FOR HAZARDOUS WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN FLORIDA ARE 
MARINE HAZARDS AND RIP CURRENTS. 

SINCE 1989...RIP CURRENTS ACCOUNTED FOR MORE THAN 300 DROWNINGS ALONG
THE GULF AND ATLANTIC COAST BEACHES. A RIP CURRENT...MISTAKENLY
CALLED AN UNDERTOW...IS A STRONG AND NARROW CURRENT OF WATER FLOWING
FROM THE BEACH THROUGH THE SURF ZONE. IT CAN QUICKLY CARRY A SWIMMER
INTO DEEPER WATER. IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO THE
SHORELINE TO ESCAPE ITS PULL. ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH 
PATROL AND WARNING FLAGS...CHECK THE LATEST SURF ZONE FORECASTS 
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WHICH INCLUDE THE EXPECTED 
RIP CURRENT RISKS...AND BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS WHEN SWIMMING NEAR 
PIERS...JETTIES AND ON UNGUARDED BEACHES.

TSUNAMIS...OR HARBOR WAVES...ARE GENERATED WHEN A LARGE BODY OF WATER
IS RAPIDLY MOVED...AS A RESULT OF AN UNDERWATER LANDSLIDE OR
EARTHQUAKE. WAVES CAN QUICKLY SWELL UP TO GREAT HEIGHTS IN COASTAL 
AREAS...TRAVEL VERY FAST...AND CAN STRIKE WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCED 
WARNING. THEREFORE...IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE EVACUATION ORDERS 
FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS IF A TSUNAMI WARNING IS 
ISSUED.

BOATING IS A POPULAR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY IN FLORIDA. 
THUNDERSTORMS...WIND...LIGHTNING AND WATERSPOUTS ALL POSE 
LIFE-THREATENING HAZARDS. SMART BOATING MEANS ADVANCED PLANNING FOR 
ADVERSE WEATHER AND ALWAYS WEARING A PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE. NOAA 
WEATHER RADIO IS THE BEST SOURCE FOR FORECASTS...WATCHES...WARNINGS 
AND ADVISORIES. HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL SAFETY TIPS TO REMEMBER...

KNOW YOUR ESCAPE ROUTE TO SHORE IF THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN.

IF CAUGHT IN A THUNDERSTORM...REMAIN BELOW DECK AND STAY AWAY FROM
UNGROUNDED METAL OBJECTS.

CHECK THE LATEST MARINE FORECAST BEFORE DEPARTURE AND ALWAYS FILE A
FLOAT PLAN.

KNOW YOUR CRAFT'S LIMITATIONS.

HAVE A VHF MARINE BAND RADIO HANDY TO RECEIVE COAST GUARD AND NOAA
WEATHER RADIO BROADCASTS.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HAZARDOUS WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...
VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB SITE AT
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TAE...THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AT WWW.FLORIDADISASTER.ORG...OR CONTACT YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

WEDNESDAY'S TOPICS FOR HAZARDOUS WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK WILL BE
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

$$