CTZ001-013-MAZ001-025-NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-058>061-063>066-
082>084-VTZ013>015-171200-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
800 AM EDT SUN MAR 16 2008

...FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK BEGINS MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICES 
REMIND YOU THAT MARCH 17 TO MARCH 21 IS FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS 
WEEK IN NEW YORK AND NEW ENGLAND. 

OUR REGIONS ABUNDANT RIVERS...CREEKS...AND STREAMS OFFER RESIDENTS
AND VISITORS MANY RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. 
BUT WHEN THESE WATERWAYS FLOOD...DEATH...INJURIES...AND SIGNIFICANT 
PROPERTY DAMAGE CAN RESULT. OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS...35 PEOPLE 
HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE TO FLOODING IN NEW YORK AND ADJACENT NEW 
ENGLAND...WITH PROPERTY DAMAGE EXCEEDING ONE BILLION DOLLARS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...AND STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 
AGENCIES URGE CITIZENS TO BE PREPARED FOR FLOODING. FLOODING CAN 
OCCUR IN ANY MONTH. HEAVY RAIN...SNOW MELT AND ICE JAMS PRODUCE 
WINTER FLOODING...WHILE THUNDERSTORMS AND TROPICAL SYSTEMS BRING 
SUMMER FLOODING. THIS MONTH...HEAVY RAINS AND SNOW MELT RESULTED
IN WIDE SPREAD FLOODING ACROSS EASTERN NEW YORK AND ADJACENT 
WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. TROPICAL RAINS IN JUNE 2006 BROUGHT 
CATASTROPHIC FLOODING TO THE MOHAWK VALLEY OF NEW YORK. HEAVY 
SUMMER THUNDERSTORMS RESULTED IN SEVERAL BOUTS OF FLASH FLOODING 
ACROSS THE AREA AS WELL.

THE THREAT OF ADDITIONAL SPRING FLOODING REMAINS HIGH THIS YEAR. 
TO THE NORTH...ABOVE AVERAGE SNOW PACK...BELOW NORMAL RESERVOIR 
STORAGE AND HIGHER THAN NORMAL STREAM FLOWS POINT TO FLOODING 
POTENTIAL. WHILE TO THE SOUTH...HIGHER THAN NORMAL STREAM FLOWS...
LOWER THAN NORMAL RESERVOIR STORAGE AND WET SOIL MOISTURE 
CONDITIONS ARE FACTORS IN ABOVE AVERAGE FLOOD POTENTIAL.

EACH DAY THIS WEEK WE WILL EXPLORE INFORMATION AND ACTIONS TO 
TAKE TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF FLOODING.

MONDAY WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT FLOOD FORECASTING. 

TUESDAY WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT FLASH FLOODING...THE RESULT OF 
THUNDERSTORM DOWNPOURS. 

WEDNESDAY WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO TROPICAL SYSTEM FLOODING.

THURSDAY WE INVESTIGATE ICE JAM FLOODING. 

FRIDAY WE CONCLUDE WITH A REVIEW OF FLOOD PREPAREDNESS AND 
SAFETY.   

TAKING STEPS NOW TO BECOME AWARE OF FLOOD THREATS...WILL HELP YOU 
ENJOY ACTIVITIES ALONG OUR REGIONS WATERWAYS ALL YEAR.

REMEMBER...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN. 

FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH INTERNET ACCESS...ALL OF OUR WEATHER INFORMATION 
INCLUDING RIVER FORECASTS IS AVAILABLE ONLINE. SIMPLY GO TO 
WWW.WEATHER.GOV AND THEN CLICK ON EASTERN NEW YORK OR ADJACENT 
WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. 

$$

OKEEFE/DIRIENZO