000
NOUS41 KILN 181855
PNSILN
INZ050-058-059-066-073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ026-034-035-042>046-
051>056-060>065-070>074-077>082-088-182300-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
255 PM EDT MON MAR 18 2013

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS HOSTING ITS ANNUAL FLOOD SAFETY 
AWARENESS WEEK CAMPAIGN TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY, MARCH 22ND. EVERY
MARCH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPENDS A WEEK FOCUSING ON FLOOD
PREVENTION AND AWARENESS.

2013 IS THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE LARGEST WEATHER DISASTER
IN OHIOS HISTORY, THE GREAT OHIO VALLEY FLOOD OF 1913. THIS
EXTREME WEATHER EVENT EXTENDED FROM INDIANA TO NEW YORK WITH
RECORD RAINFALL AND FLOODING STARTING ON MARCH 23RD 1913 AND
LASTING THROUGH THE 27TH. THE RAINSTORMS PRODUCED THE LARGEST
WEATHER DISASTER THE NATION HAD EVER WITNESSED TO THAT POINT. 

EVERY RIVER IN OHIO...SOUTHEAST INDIANA AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY 
FLOODED, MANY TO UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS. WHEN THE FLOOD WATERS
FINALLY RECEDED, OVER A QUARTER MILLION AMERICANS WERE LEFT
HOMELESS AND OVER A THOUSAND HAD PERISHED. THOSE KILLED DIRECTLY
BY FLOOD WATERS IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND 600 IN OHIO ALONE (STILL
ESTIMATING)...WITH ABOUT 20 DEAD IN SOUTHEAST INDIANA. 

AN ERA OF FLOOD AWARENESS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FLOOD PROTECTION
FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FLOOD. MANY TOWNS THAT WERE
IMPACTED SAW THEIR LANDSCAPES RESHAPED AS THEY ADOPTED NEW DAMS,
LEVEES, AND FLOOD WALLS. 

DURING THE LAST CENTURY STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES DEVELOPED
NUMEROUS FLOOD WARNING, AWARENESS, AND PROTECTION SERVICES TO
PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN FLOOD ZONES.
DESPITE ALL THE ADVANCES IN MITIGATION AND FORECASTING, FLOODING
IS STILL THE NUMBER ONE HAZARDOUS WEATHER- RELATED KILLER IN THE
UNITED STATES. THE FIRST STEP TO REDUCING THE LOSS OF LIFE AND
PROPERTY FROM FLOODS IS TO BE AWARE OF YOUR FLOOD RISK. THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS THE ROLE OF ISSUING FLOOD WARNINGS TO
ALERT THE PUBLIC OF POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FLOODING CONDITIONS. ONE
TOOL FOR ACCESSING THESE FORECASTS IS THROUGH THE ADVANCED
HYDROLOGIC PREDICTION SERVICE WEBSITE, ALSO KNOWN AS AHPS. THE
AHPS WEBSITE MAKES AVAILABLE TO USERS THE RIVER GAUGE READINGS
ALONG WITH PREDICTIONS ON FUTURE RIVER STAGES AT POINTS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. 

IN THE NWS WILMINGTON FORECAST AREA...THERE ARE 28 SUCH RIVER
FORECAST POINTS. COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE RIVERS THAT
THESE GAUGES REPRESENT CAN MONITOR RIVER RISE AND FORECASTS TO
HELP THEM PREPARE FOR IMPENDING FLOODS.

THE AHPS PROVIDES THE PUBLIC WITH MORE DETAILED AND ACCURATE 
ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

HOW HIGH WILL THE RIVER RISE?
WHEN WILL THE RIVER REACH ITS PEAK? 
WHERE WILL THE FLOODING OCCUR? 
HOW LONG WILL THE FLOOD LAST? 
HOW LONG WILL THE DROUGHT LAST?
HOW CERTAIN IS THE FORECAST?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADVANCED HYDROLOGIC PREDICTION 
SERVICE CAN BE FOUND AT:

HTTP://WATER.WEATHER.GOV/AHPS/ OR FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CAN
BE FOUND AT WWW.FLOODSAFETY.NOAA.GOV. 

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


$$