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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
600 AM EST FRI FEB 6 2009

TODAY'S TOPIC FOR SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN GEORGIA IS FLOODS 
AND FLASH FLOODS.

FLOODS ARE THE MOST DAMAGING...COSTLY...AND DEADLY WEATHER-RELATED
PHENOMENA. ANNUALLY...FLOODS COST THE NATION OVER TWO BILLION
DOLLARS IN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND CAUSE NEARLY 150 DEATHS. THE MAJORITY
OF FLOOD-RELATED FATALITIES OCCUR WHEN PEOPLE BECOME TRAPPED IN
VEHICLES THAT STALL WHILE DRIVING THROUGH FLOODED AREAS.

FLOODING IS DIVIDED INTO TWO CATEGORIES...FLASH FLOODS AND RIVER
FLOODS. FLASH FLOODS CAN OCCUR WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OR HOURS OF
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL...OR FROM A DAM OR LEVEE FAILURE. AREAS MOST
PRONE TO FLASH FLOODS ARE MOUNTAINOUS STREAMS AND RIVERS...URBAN
AREAS...LOW-LYING AREAS...STORM DRAINS AND CULVERTS. RIVER FLOODS
RESULT FROM THE GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE WATER LEVEL OF A RIVER OR
CREEK. THESE FLOODS TYPICALLY OCCUR SEASONALLY WITH GENERAL
RAINS...OR WITH TORRENTIAL RAINS FROM TROPICAL SYSTEMS.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
FLASH FLOODING. A FLOOD WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR LONG-DURATION FLOODING.

FLASH FLOOD...FLOOD AND RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS ARE ISSUED WHEN
FLOODING OCCURS OR IS IMMINENT.

IF FLOODING OCCURS...MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND. AVOID LOW-LYING AREAS 
SUCH AS STREAM BEDS...DRAINAGE DITCHES AND CULVERTS. ONLY SIX INCHES 
OF FAST-FLOWING WATER CAN SWEEP YOU OFF YOUR FEET.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOWING STREAMS. ROAD BEDS MAY BE WASHED
OUT. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ACROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS OR AROUND 
BARRICADES. TWO FEET OF FAST-FLOWING WATER CAN CARRY MOST VEHICLES. 
REMEMBER...TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE
FLOOD DANGERS.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB SITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/FFC...OR 
CONTACT YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

$$