...WRITTEN BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES...LA...

...CONTINUING HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN TEXAS...

...HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK...INLAND FLOODING...

STATISTICALLY...MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM INLAND FLOODING THAN 
STORM SURGE...TORNADOES...OR HIGH WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL 
CYCLONES IN THE PAST 30 YEARS. INLAND FLOODING CAN BE A MAJOR 
THREAT TO COMMUNITIES HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM THE COAST AS INTENSE 
RAIN FALLS FROM THESE HUGE TROPICAL AIR MASSES. 

INTENSE RAINFALL IS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE WIND SPEED OF 
TROPICAL CYCLONES. IN FACT...SOME OF THE GREATEST RAINFALL 
AMOUNTS OCCUR FROM WEAKER STORMS THAT DRIFT SLOWLY OR STALL OVER 
AN AREA. 

THE MOST DRAMATIC EXAMPLE RECENTLY OCCURRED IN 2001 WHEN TROPICAL 
STORM ALLISON PRODUCED EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALL AND CATASTROPHIC 
FLOODS IN THE HOUSTON  TEXAS AREA. AS ALLISON DRIFTED TO THE EAST 
AND THEN NORTHEAST...HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLOODING CONTINUED FROM 
LOUISIANA...TO NORTH CAROLINA...AND EVEN AS FAR NORTH AS 
MASSACHUSETTS. OVER 30 PEOPLE DIED IN THE HOUSTON AREA...AND 
NEARLY 5 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGES WERE INCURRED.

HERE ARE SEVERAL STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

PROTECT YOUR PAST:
PLACE VALUABLES IN PLASTIC STORAGE CONTAINERS AND MOVE THEM TO 
THE ATTIC OR OTHER ELEVATED LOCATION. FOR JEWELRY AND PHOTOS  
ON YOUR  WALLS...HAVE SMALL...EMPTY PLASTIC STORAGE CONTAINERS 
NEARBY SO YOU CAN QUICKLY SCOOP UP YOUR BELONGINGS AND PLACE THEM 
IN ELEVATED LOCATIONS.

PROTECT YOUR PRESENT:
PURCHASE INSURANCE THROUGH THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM. 
IT WILL HELP YOU RECOVER FROM A FINANCIAL LOSS DUE TO FLOODING.

PROTECT YOUR FUTURE:
BEFORE A FLOOD...ELEVATE EXPENSIVE ITEMS SUCH AS OUTSIDE AIR 
CONDITIONING UNITS. SEAL VENTS TO BASEMENTS TO PREVENT FLOODING. 
DURING A FLOOD...IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF YOUR ELECTRICITY AT THE 
CIRCUIT BREAKERS.
 
PROTECT YOUR PEACE OF MIND:
KNOW YOUR EVACUATION ROUTES. HAVE DETAILED MAPS TO NAVIGATE 
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES IF THE USUAL ROADS ARE FLOODED. PLAN AHEAD 
FOR THE FLOOD. WHERE WOULD YOU EVACUATE TO? WHERE IS THE 
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR YOUR INSURANCE AGENT AND HOME-REPAIR 
CONTRACTOR? GET ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS BEFORE A FLOOD 
OCCURS. ABOVE ALL REMAIN CALM AND FOLLOW YOUR PLAN OF ACTION. 
MANY FLOOD DEATHS RESULT FROM FEAR AND NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO. 
DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU.