Press Release

Subject: National Flood Safety Awareness Week
Date: 2010-02-19
Author: Helen Means
Public Information Officer
Reference Number: 10-004

National Flood Safety Awareness Week March 15-19, 2010

The National Weather Service has designated March 15-19, 2010 as National Flood Safety Awareness Week. TADD (Turn Around Don’t Drown) is a campaign to warn people of the hazards of walking or driving a vehicle through flood waters. Each year more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other severe weather related hazard. The main reason is people underestimate the force and power of water. More than half of all flood related deaths result from vehicles being swept downstream. Of these, many are preventable.

Sheriff Richard Anderson is passing on this flood safety information in an effort to keep Platte County citizens well informed on flood safety and terminology used by the National Weather Service.

A FLOOD occurs when prolonged rainfall over several days, intense rainfall over a short period of time, or an ice or debris jam causes a river or stream to overflow and flood the surrounding area.

A FLASH FLOOD occurs within six hours of a rain event, or after a dam or levee failure, or following a sudden release of water held by an ice or debris jam, and flash floods can catch people unprepared.
Most flash flooding is caused by slow moving thunderstorm, thunderstorms repeatedly moving over the same area, or heavy rains.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH: Flash flooding or flooding is possible within the designated WATCH area – be alert!

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING: Flash flooding or flooding has been reported or is imminent – take necessary precautions at once!

Here are some safety tips that you can use to keep safety a number one priority for you and your family.

o Know your flood risk and elevation above flood stage.
o Keep your automobile fueled; if electric power is cut off, gas stations may not be able to operate pumps for several days.
o Store drinking water in clean bathtubs and in various containers. Water service may be interrupted.
o Keep a stock of food that requires little cooking and no refrigeration; electric power may be interrupted.
o Keep first aid supplies on hand.
o Keep a NOAA Weather Radio*, a batter-powered portable radio, emergency cooking equipment, and flashlights in working order.
o Install check valves in building sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
o Assemble a disaster supplies kit containing: first aid kit, canned food and can opener, bottled water, rubber boots, rubber gloves, NOAA Weather Radio, battery-powered flashlight, and extra batteries.
o Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers. Most flood deaths occur at night and in automobiles
o Avoid already flooded and high velocity flow areas. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, STOP! Turn Around Don’t Drown.
o If driving, NEVER drive through flooded roadways! Drivers can lose control of their vehicles in as little as 6 inches of water. Two feet of water is generally enough to carry most vehicles away, including SUV’s. Turn Around Don’t Drown.
o Stay away from downed power lines; they may land in flooded streets.

*NOAA Weather Radio: NOAA weather radios receive continuous broadcasts of the latest weather information from the National Weather Service. Weather messages are repeated every 4 to 6 minutes and are routinely updated every 1 to 3 hours daily. Under a January 1995 White House policy statement, NOAA Weather Radio was designated the sole Government-operated radio system to provide direct warnings into private homes for both natural disasters and nuclear attack. This concept is being expanded to include warnings for all hazardous conditions that pose a threat to life and safety, both at a local and national level. If local officials determine that an emergency storm warning is necessary, warnings will be broadcast via television, radio and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather radios.
These special radios are available at a discounted price ($29.95) at area Price Chopper Stores through a special partnership with the Metropolitan Emergency Managers Project Community Alert.

Additional information about National Flood Safety Awareness Week is available at http://weather.gov/floodsafety.