PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 833 AM CDT WED MAY 24 2006 ...HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK...INLAND FLOODING... STATISTICALLY...OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS...MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN TROPICAL CYCLONES FROM INLAND FLOODING THAN FROM STORM SURGE... TORNADOES...OR HIGH WINDS. INLAND FLOODING CAN BE A MAJOR THREAT TO COMMUNITIES HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM THE COAST AS INTENSE RAIN FALLS FROM THESE HUGE TROPICAL SYSTEMS. INTENSE RAINFALL IS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE INTERNAL WIND SPEED OF TROPICAL CYCLONES. IN FACT...SOME OF THE GREATEST RAINFALL AMOUNTS OCCUR IN WEAKER STORMS THAT DRIFT SLOWLY OR STALL OVER AN AREA. A RECENT DRAMATIC EXAMPLE OCCURRED IN 2001 WHEN TROPICAL STORM ALLISON PRODUCED EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALL AND CATASTROPHIC FLOODS IN THE HOUSTON 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 20 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. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING HURRICANES OR HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS...PLEASE VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WWW.SRH.WEATHER.GOV OR CONTACT YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.