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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
800 AM EDT THU JUL 12 2007

...THIS PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH
HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK...

INLAND FLOODING:

IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, INLAND FLOODING HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE
THAN HALF THE DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL CYCLONES IN THE
UNITED STATES.

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: WHEN IT COMES TO HURRICANES, WIND SPEEDS DO
NOT TELL THE WHOLE STORY. HURRICANES PRODUCE STORM SURGES,
TORNADOES, AND OFTEN THE MOST DEADLY OF ALL - INLAND FLOODING.

WHILE STORM SURGE IS ALWAYS A POTENTIAL THREAT, MORE PEOPLE HAVE
DIED FROM INLAND FLOODING IN THE LAST 30 YEARS. INTENSE RAINFALL IS
NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE WIND SPEED OF TROPICAL CYCLONES. IN
FACT, SOME OF THE GREATEST RAINFALL AMOUNTS OCCUR FROM WEAKER
STORMS THAT DRIFT SLOWLY OR STALL OVER AN AREA.

INLAND FLOODING CAN BE A MAJOR THREAT TO COMMUNITIES HUNDREDS OF
MILES FROM THE COAST AS INTENSE RAIN FALLS FROM THESE HUGE TROPICAL
AIR MASSES.

HURRICANE FLOYD (1999) BROUGHT INTENSE RAINS AND RECORD FLOODING TO
THE EASTERN U.S. OF THE 56 PEOPLE WHO PERISHED, 50 DROWNED DUE TO
INLAND FLOODING.

HURRICANE AGNES (1972) PRODUCED FLOODS IN THE NORTHEAST UNITED
STATES WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO 122 DEATHS AND $6.4 BILLION IN DAMAGES.
LONG AFTER THE WINDS FROM HURRICANE DIANE (1955) SUBSIDED, THE
STORM BROUGHT INLAND FLOODING TO PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, AND NEW
ENGLAND CONTRIBUTING TO NEARLY 200 DEATHS AND $4.2 BILLION IN
DAMAGES.

FRESHWATER FLOODS ACCOUNTED FOR MORE THAN HALF (59%) OF U.S.
TROPICAL CYCLONE DEATHS OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. THESE FLOODS ARE
WHY 63% OF U.S. TROPICAL CYCLONE DEATHS DURING THAT PERIOD OCCURRED
IN INLAND COUNTIES.

AT LEAST 23% OF U.S. TROPICAL CYCLONE DEATHS OCCUR TO PEOPLE WHO
DROWN IN, OR ATTEMPTING TO ABANDON, THEIR CARS.

78% OF CHILDREN KILLED BY TROPICAL CYCLONES DROWNED IN FRESHWATER
FLOODS.

SO, THE NEXT TIME YOU HEAR HURRICANE -- THINK INLAND FLOODING!

WHAT CAN YOU DO? -WHEN YOU HEAR HURRICANE, THINK INLAND FLOODING.

-DETERMINE WHETHER YOU LIVE IN A POTENTIAL FLOOD ZONE.

-IF ADVISED TO EVACUATE, DO SO IMMEDIATELY.

-KEEP ABREAST OF ROAD CONDITIONS THROUGH THE NEWS MEDIA. MOVE TO A
SAFE AREA BEFORE ACCESS IS CUT OFF BY FLOOD WATER.

-DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOWING WATER. AS LITTLE AS SIX INCHES OF
WATER MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE.

-DEVELOP A FLOOD EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN. HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE. FLOOD
DAMAGE IS NOT USUALLY COVERED BY HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE. DO NOT MAKE
ASSUMPTIONS. CHECK YOUR POLICY. 

PREPARED BY TONY STUREY 
WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
NWS CARIBOU MAINE.