PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
615 AM CDT WED MAR 19 2008

...DAY 3 OF 2008 NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INVITES YOUR PARTICIPATION IN
THE THIRD ANNUAL NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK...
MARCH 17-21...2008.

TODAYS THEME IS FLOODING AND RELATED PHENOMENA. FLOODS
OCCUR NATIONWIDE AND ARE THE DEADLIEST WEATHER RELATED
KILLER IN THE UNITED STATES. FLOODING CAN BE CAUSED BY A
VARIETY OF WEATHER HAZARDS INCLUDING TROPICAL CYCLONES...
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS...THUNDERSTORMS...SNOWMELT...AND
DEBRIS FLOWS. THE IMPACTS OF FLOODING CAN RANGE FROM RIVER
FLOODING...TO URBAN FLOODING...TO FLASH FLOODING. IN
ESSENCE THOUGH...ALL FLOODING CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING...SO
YOU NEED TO KEEP INFORMED OF DEVELOPING FLOOD SITUATIONS
AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION TO AVOID DANGER.

HERE ARE SOME TERMS WE USE TO INFORM YOU OF THE FLOOD
THREAT...

- A FLOOD WATCH OR FLASH FLOOD WATCH INDICATES THAT
  CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FLOODING TO HAPPEN.

- A FLOOD WARNING OR FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS FLOODING
  IS OCCURRING OR IMMINENT.

- MINOR FLOODING IS WHEN MINIMAL OR NO PROPERTY DAMAGE IS
  EXPECTED TO OCCUR...BUT THE FLOODING COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE
  SOME PUBLIC THREAT OR INCONVENIENCE.

- MODERATE FLOODING IS WHEN SOME INUNDATION OF STRUCTURES
  AND ROADS NEAR STREAMS WILL OCCUR. SOME EVACUATIONS OF
  PEOPLE AND/OR A TRANSFER OF PROPERTY TO HIGHER ELEVATIONS
  ARE NECESSARY.

- MAJOR FLOODING IS WHEN THERE IS EXTENSIVE INUNDATION OF
  STRUCTURES AND ROADS ALONG WITH POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT
  EVACUATIONS OF PEOPLE AND/OR TRANSFER OF PROPERTY TO
  HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT AHPS AND FLOOD SAFETY
AWARENESS WEEK IS AVAILABLE AT...

WWW.WEATHER.GOV/FLOODSAFETY/

$$