PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT FRI MAR 23 2007

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED MARCH 19 THROUGH 23 AS 
FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN 
CHARLESTON WILL FEATURE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL TOPIC EACH DAY 
DURING THE AWARENESS WEEK. TODAY/S TOPIC IS...FLOOD SAFETY.

IS FLOODING REALLY THAT BIG OF A DEAL.

FLOODING CAUSES MORE DAMAGE IN THE UNITED STATES THAN ANY OTHER 
WEATHER-RELATED EVENT...AN AVERAGE OF 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR 
IN THE PAST 20 YEARS. FLOODING CAN OCCUR IN ANY OF THE 50 STATES 
OR U.S. TERRITORIES ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF I AM IN DANGER FROM A FLOOD.

NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL-HAZARDS IS THE BEST MEANS TO RECEIVE 
WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. THE NWS CONTINUOUSLY
BROADCASTS UPDATED WEATHER WARNINGS AND FORECASTS THAT CAN BE
RECEIVED BY NOAA WEATHER RADIOS SOLD IN MANY STORES. IT IS
RECOMMENDED THAT YOU PURCHASE A RADIO THAT HAS BOTH A BATTERY
BACKUP AND A TONE- ALERT FEATURE WHICH AUTOMATICALLY ALERTS YOU
WHEN A WATCH OR WARNING IS ISSUED. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WEATHER
RADIO ON OUR WEBSITE: WWW.WEATHER.GOV/CHS/NWR.SHTML

ALSO...OUR HOMEPAGE IDENTIFIES WHERE FLOOD STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS 
ARE IN EFFECT: WWW.WEATHER.GOV/CHS
   
IN ADDITION TO STAYING INFORMED...BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR RAPIDLY 
RISING WATER OR WATER FLOWING ACROSS A ROAD. NEARLY HALF OF ALL 
FLOOD FATALITIES ARE AUTO RELATED. NIGHTTIME FLOODING IS ESPECIALLY 
DANGEROUS SO BE VERY CAUTIOUS AFTER DARK.

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO PREPARE FOR A FLOOD.

HOW TO REDUCE POTENTIAL FLOOD DAMAGE AND WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A 
FAMILY DISASTER PLAN CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.
THE NWS WORKS WITH AND RELIES ON STRATEGIC PARTNERS INVOLVED IN
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT...FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION...AND FLOOD
PREPAREDNESS TO REDUCE THE LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DUE TO
FLOODS. KEY PARTNERS INCLUDE THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY...FEMA...
THE NATIONAL HYDROLOGIC WARNING COUNCIL...THE ASSOCIATION OF 
STATE FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS...THE AMERICAN RED CROSS...THE NATIONAL
SAFETY COUNCIL...THE FEDERAL ALLIANCE FOR SAFE HOMES...THE WEATHER
CHANNEL...OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS...AND MANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AND
PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS.

PLAN AHEAD...

IDENTIFY WHERE TO GO IF TOLD TO EVACUATE. CHOOSE SEVERAL 
PLACES...THE HOME OF A FRIEND...A MOTEL IN ANOTHER TOWN...OR 
A SHELTER. CONSULT FEMA/S WEBSITE TO DETERMINE THE FLOOD RISK OF
YOUR LOCATION...WWW.FLOODSMART.GOV...OR CALL YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCY. CHECK YOUR HOMEOWNERS OR RENTERS INSURANCE.
HOMEOWNERS POLICIES DO NOT COVER FLOODING. CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE
AGENT TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET FLOOD INSURANCE.

IF A FLOOD WATCH IS ISSUED...THIS MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE 
FOR FLOOD-PRODUCING RAINFALL...OR A DAM BREAK MAY BE IMMINENT.
THIS IS THE TIME TO CHECK YOUR PREPAREDNESS PLANS AND KNOW HOW TO
EVACUATE IF A WARNING IS ISSUED OR FLOODING IS OBSERVED.

IF A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED...BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE 
EVACUATIONS AND FOLLOW OFFICIAL REQUESTS. WHEN DRIVING...TRY TO 
AVOID AREAS UNDER A FLASH FLOOD WARNING...OR AT LEAST BE VERY 
CAUTIOUS FOR WATER ON THE ROAD. 

CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO PLAY NEAR STORM DRAINS...
DITCHES OR OTHER FLOODED AREAS. ONLY SIX INCHES OF FAST MOVING
WATER CAN SWEEP AN ADULT OFF THEIR FEET...EVEN LESS FOR CHILDREN.

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