000
NZUS01 KLZK 151509
WRKPNS
ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-182000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
700 AM CDT WED MAR 18 2009

...DAY 3 OF NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK 2009...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INVITES YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 
FOURTH ANNUAL NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK MARCH 16 TO 20, 
2009.

EACH DAY THIS WEEK A DIFFERENT TOPIC WILL BE DISCUSSED. TODAYS TOPIC 
WILL BE A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF FLOODING AND FLOOD RELATED 
PHENOMENA. FLOODS CAN OCCUR NATIONWIDE AND ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF 
WEATHER RELATED DEATHS IN THIS COUNTRY. IN ARKANSAS...FLOODING CAN 
BE CAUSED BY INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS...TROPICAL CYCLONES...OR STALLED 
WEATHER SYSTEMS WITH A SERIES OF LOW PRESSURES TRACKING ALONG THE 
SAME AREA. ALL FLOODING CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING...SO REMAIN ALERT TO 
THE POTENTIAL. TAKE QUICK ACTION TO AVOID THE DANGER. 

SOME ITEMS TO CONSIDER TO INCREASE YOUR AWARENESS OF THE DANGERS OF 
FLOODING...

...KEEP CHILDREN AWAY FROM FLOODED AREAS. MOVING WATER CAN TAKE THEM 
   AWAY BEFORE YOU CAN REACT.

...DONT DRIVE INTO FLOODED AREAS. CARS CAN BE SWEPT AWAY WITH LESS 
   THAN 2 FEET OF MOVING WATER. 

...WHEN BOATING IN FLOODWATER...DEBRIS CAN FLIP A BOAT. A BOAT THAT 
   LOSES POWER IN SWIFT CURRENTS CAN CREATE A SERIOUS PERIL.

...REMEMBER THAT FLOODED ROADS MAY MASK HIDDEN DANGERS. ROADS MAY BE 
   SCOURED AWAY OR BRIDGES MAY BE WASHED OUT.

...NEVER DRIVE AROUND A BARRICADE. 

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

...A FLOOD WATCH OR FLASH FLOOD WATCH INDICATES THAT CONDITIONS ARE 
   PRIME FOR FLOODING OR WEATHER FORECASTS INDICATE THE POTENTIAL 
   FOR HEAVY RAIN.

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

...MINOR FLOODING IS DEFINED AS OVERBANK FLOODING OCCURRING IN THE 
   LOWER LYING PORTIONS OF A FLOODPLAIN THAT HAS MINIMAL IMPACTS. 
   GENERALLY...PASTURES AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL USE LANDS OR PARKS 
   WILL BE FLOODING.

...MODERATE FLOODING IS DEFINED BY WATER COVERING WELL TRAVELED 
   ROADS OR IMPACTING SOME STRUCTURES.

...MAJOR FLOODING IS WHEN THERE IS EXTENSIVE FLOODING OF STRUCTURES
   AND ROADS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR EVACUATIONS IS HIGH.

INFORMATION ABOUT FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK IS AVAILABLE AT:

WWW.WEATHER.GOV/FLOODSAFETY

$$

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT...
STEVE BAYS P.E., SERVICE HYDROLOGIST
STEVE.BAYS@NOAA.GOV
501-834-0308

  • National Weather Service
  • Little Rock, AR Weather Forecast Office
  • 8400 Remount Road
  • North Little Rock, AR 72120
  • (501) 834-0308
  • Page Author: LZK Webmaster
  • Web Master's E-mail: sr-lzk.webmaster@noaa.gov
  • Page last modified: March 16th 2009 4:59 PM
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