PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 435 PM CDT MON MAR 17 2008 ...2008 NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK... YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) INVITES YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE THIRD ANNUAL NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK, MARCH 17-21, 2008. TODAYS THEME IS THE ADVANCED HYDROLOGIC PREDICTION SERVICE OR AHPS. AHPS PROVIDES WATER PREDICTION AND DELIVERY METHODS TO SERVE YOUR NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF ALL OUR PARTNERS IN PROTECTING LIFE AND PROPERTY RANGING FROM FLOODS TO DROUGHTS. AHPS PROVIDES YOU WITH USER FRIENDLY TEXT AND GRAPHICAL FORECASTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE. THE GOAL OF THESE PRODUCTS IS TO HELP EMERGENCY MANAGERS TO BE BETTER PREPARED TO DEFEND THEIR COMMUNITIES FROM FLOODS...AND HELPS RECREATIONAL WATER USERS STAY OUT OF HARMS WAY. AHPS ENABLES YOU TO GET RELIABLE ANSWERS TO SUCH QUESTIONS AS: -HOW HIGH WILL THE RIVER RISE? -WHEN WILL THE RIVER CREST? -WHERE WILL IT FLOOD? -HOW LONG WILL THE FLOOD LAST? -HOW GOOD IS THE FORECAST? -WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF THE FLOOD? THE NWS HAS RECENTLY ADDED SOME ENHANCEMENTS TO THE AHPS PAGES. THESE ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE: -MULTI-SENSORED PRECIPITATION INFORMATION -FLOOD INUNDATION MAPPING AT SELECT LOCATIONS -RSS FEED ALERT CAPABILITIES -DOWNLOADABLE SHAPE AND KMZ FILES FOR GIS USERS THE DIRECT LINK TO THE AHPS WEBPAGES IS WWW.WATER.WEATHER.GOV ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT AHPS AND FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK IS AVAILABLE AT: WWW.WEATHER.GOV/FLOODSAFETY/ $$