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 FRI MAR 16 2012

...FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CONCLUDES...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND NEW YORK AND NEW ENGLAND 
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES REMIND YOU THAT MARCH 12 THROUGH 
MARCH 16 WAS FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK.

TODAY WE CONCLUDE BY REVIEWING FLOOD PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY.

OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS...MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY 
FLOODING IN NEW YORK AND ADJACENT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. PROPERTY 
DAMAGE HAS EXCEEDED TWO BILLION DOLLARS. TODAY WE WILL LOOK AT 
WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR LOVED ONES AND PROPERTY FROM FLOODING.

FIRST AND FOREMOST...DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOOD WATERS. IF YOU 
ENCOUNTER A FLOODED ROADWAY...TURN AROUND AND FIND AN ALTERNATE 
ROUTE. FIFTY PERCENT OF ALL FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. 

TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW FLOOD PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS. KNOW THE 
FLOOD RISK AT YOUR LOCATION. CHECK WITH YOUR CITY OR COUNTY 
GOVERNMENT TO FIND OUT YOUR VULNERABILITY. HAVE AN EVACUATION 
KIT AND PLAN READY. DISCUSS THE PLAN WITH FAMILY MEMBERS. 
DETERMINE ALTERNATE ROUTES THAT YOU CAN TAKE IN CASE YOUR NORMAL 
ROUTE BECOMES FLOODED. HAVE A SUPPLY OF DRINKING WATER IN CASE 
WATER SERVICE IS INTERRUPTED. 

NOAAS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PROVIDES FLOOD WATCH...WARNING 
AND ADVISORY SERVICES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT EACH OF THESE 
MEAN. 

A FLOOD WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR FLOODING 
ALONG STREAMS...CREEKS AND RIVERS. WHEN A FLOOD WATCH IS IN 
EFFECT...IT MEANS THAT FLOODING IS POSSIBILE BUT NOT CERTAIN. YOU 
SHOULD CONTINUE WITH YOUR DAILY ROUTINE...BUT BE PREPARED TO HEAD 
TO A PLACE OF SAFETY SHOULD A FLOOD WARNING BE ISSUED.

A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR VERY LIKLEY 
TO OCCUR IN STREAMS...CREEKS OR RIVERS. IF A FLOOD WARNING IS 
ISSUED...EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY IF SO ADVISED. IF EVACUATING...MAKE 
SURE YOU BRING ENOUGH SUPPLIES TO LAST AT LEAST 3 DAYS OR LONGER. 
IF YOU ARE DRIVING AND ENCOUNTER A FLOODED ROADWAY...DO NOT 
ATTEMPT TO CROSS. TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN. REMIND YOUR CHILDREN 
NOT TO WALK...SWIM...OR PLAY IN FLOOD WATERS. 

AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY INDICATES THAT NUISANCE 
TYPE FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. THIS ADVISORY SHOULD 
REMIND YOU TO BE AWARE OF FLOODED UNDERPASSES IN URBAN AREAS...
AND MINOR...NUISANCE FLOODING IN RURAL AREAS. 

AFTER A FLOOD...KEEP THESE RULES IN MIND. IF NECESSARY...GET 
MEDICAL CARE QUICKLY AT THE NEAREST HOSPITAL. IF THE POWER IS 
OUT...USE FLASHLIGHTS...NOT FLAMMABLE OBJECTS SUCH AS CANDLES...
TORCHES...OR LANTERNS. REPORT BROKEN UTILITY LINES TO THE 
AUTHORITIES. BOIL DRINKING WATER BEFORE USE. DO NOT VISIT 
DISASTER AREAS. 

NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS OFFERS THE BEST WAY TO STAY IN 
TOUCH WITH WEATHER CONDITIONS WHETHER AT HOME...WORK OR PLAY. 
NOAA WEATHER RADIO PROVIDES CONTINUOUS BROADCASTS OF WEATHER 
INFORMATION...WITH IMMEDIATE RELAY OF ANY FLOOD WARNINGS. NOAAS 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RECOMMENDS EVERYONE HAVE ACCESS TO A 
NOAA WEATHER RADIO.

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

$$

DIRIENZO/WESTERGARD