(L to R) Tim Anerton, Florence Fire Rescue & Citizen Corps Council; Tony Wingo, AEMA Regional Coordinator; Mark Senf, Florence-Lauderdale EMA & Citizen Corps Council; Tim Holt, Citizen Corps Council & Search & Rescue; Tim Troutman, Huntsville WCM; Bobby Dolan; county resident; Mike Coyne, Huntscille MIC; Ken Allamel, Lauderdale County Road Dept./Engineer; Ronnie Willis, Lauderdale County Sheriff; and, George Grabryan, Director, Florence-Lauderdale EMA. (Photo: WFO Huntsville)
(Nov. 5, 2008) - Northern Alabama's Lauderdale County has launched a sign project promoting the National Weather Service flood safety slogan, Turn Around, Don't Drown®. Utilizing Homeland Security and AmeriCorps program funding distributed through the state's Citizen Corps and Faith Based Initiative, the county purchased 100 signs to be placed at strategic low-water crossing sites throughout Lauderdale County.
Huntsville forecast office Meteorologist-in-Charge Mike Coyne and Warning Coordination Meteorologist Tim Troutman expressed the hope that the Lauderdale County project would serve as a model for counties throughout Alabama.
Launched May 21, 2003 as a joint effort by the National Weather Service and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, the Turn Around, Don't Drown campaign is designed to enhance public awareness of the dangers of driving or walking into flooded areas.
"Flooding kills more people each year than most major weather-related events and the tragic irony is that the vast majority of those deaths are easily preventable," said Bill Proenza, regional director of the National Weather Service Southern Region. "Every year, approximately 100 people die in floods and our records indicate 80 percent of the flooding deaths resulted when people drove or walked into moving water."
It only takes six inches of moving water to sweep someone off their feet and 24 inches to float most vehicles. People who walk or drive into moving water not only risk their own lives, but also the lives of those who try to rescue them.
A colorful poster, a Turn Around, Don't Drown sign, window sticker, FLASH card and a NWS flood safety brochure are all available at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tadd. Visitors are encouraged to download, re-produce and distribute the images through community civic organizations, schools, government agencies or private businesses.
