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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
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