000
NOUS41 KILN 211849
PNSILN
INZ050-058-059-066-073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ026-034-035-042>046-
051>056-060>065-070>074-077>082-088-212300-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
249 PM EDT THU MAR 21 2013

...2013 NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUES ITS ANNUAL FLOOD SAFETY
AWARENESS WEEK CAMPAIGN TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY, MARCH 22ND. THIS
YEAR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS ALSO COMMEMORATING THE
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREAT OHIO VALLEY FLOOD OF 1913
WHICH OCCURRED BETWEEN MARCH 23 AND 27TH AND WAS THE LARGEST
WEATHER DISASTER IN OHIO AND INDIANA HISTORY.

EVERYONE LIVES IN A FLOOD ZONE, WITH THEIR RISK OF FLOODING 
RANGING FROM LOW TO MODERATE TO HIGH. FLOODS ARE FOUR TIMES MORE
LIKELY TO OCCUR THAN A FIRE. LOW HAZARD FLOOD AREAS ARE ALSO AT
RISK, AS 25 TO 35 PERCENT OF ALL CLAIMS EACH YEAR ARE PAID FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED OUTSIDE HIGH RISK AREAS. THROUGH ITS FLOOD HAZARD
MAPPING PROGRAM, FEMA PROVIDES THE PUBLIC WITH INFORMATION
REGARDING THEIR FLOOD RISK.

MANY HOMEOWNERS BELIEVE IF THEY EXPERIENCE FLOODING THAT THEIR 
INSURANCE WILL COVER THE COSTS, BUT MOST HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE
DOES NOT PROTECT AGAINST FLOOD DAMAGE. JUST A FEW INCHES OF WATER
IN A HOME CAN CAUSE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE.

HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO PURCHASE
FLOOD INSURANCE AS LONG AS THEIR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATES IN THE
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM. THIS IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM
ENABLING PROPERTY OWNERS TO PURCHASE INSURANCE PROTECTION AGAINST
LOSSES FROM FLOODING. IT TAKES 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE FOR A POLICY
TO TAKE EFFECT, SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO BUY INSURANCE BEFORE
FLOODWATERS START TO RISE.

IF THE OHIO VALLEY WERE TO RECEIVE A RAINFALL EVENT SIMILAR TO THE 
MARCH 1913 EVENT, WOULD CONDITIONS BE BETTER OR WORSE? NO MATTER
HOW HIGH THE RIVERS RISE IN FUTURE FLOODS, CITIZENS TODAY HAVE
ADVANTAGES NOT AVAILABLE IN 1913. DOZENS OF LOCAL, STATE, AND
FEDERAL AGENCIES ALONG WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND ACADEMIA HAVE
WORKED HARD OVER THE LAST CENTURY TO REDUCE FLOOD RISK. IF THE
FLOOD WATERS COME AGAIN, CITIZENS HAVE RESOURCES AND TOOLS
AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM PREPARE, RESPOND, AND RECOVER.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT CITIZENS LOOK AT THE IMPACTS FROM PAST FLOODS
IN THEIR AREA IN ORDER TO BE BETTER PREPARED TODAY. THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE BELIEVES THAT ACCURATE, UP-TO-DATE FLOOD HAZARD
INFORMATION IS CRUCIAL TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM CAN BE
FOUND AT WWW.FLOODSMART.GOV. INFORMATION ABOUT FEMA FLOOD HAZARD
MAPPING CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.READY.GOV/FLOODS OR
WWW.FLOODSMART.GOV.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE GREAT OHIO VALLEY FLOOD OF 1913
PLEASE VISIT HTTP://MRCC.ISWS.ILLINOIS.EDU/1913FLOOD/.

$$