PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
500 AM EDT WED MAY 25 2011

THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK. IT IS TIME FOR YOU 
TO PREPARE FOR THE 2011 HURRICANE SEASON. THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE 
SEASON BEGINS EACH YEAR ON JUNE 1ST AND ENDS NOVEMBER 30TH. BEING 
PREPARED CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR ABILITY TO COPE WHEN A 
STORM THREATENS.

TODAYS TOPIC IS INLAND FLOODING.

THE GREATEST INTEREST IN HURRICANES IS USUALLY THE LOCATION OF THE 
APPROACHING EYE...THE STRENGTH OF THE WIND...AND THE EVACUATION OF 
THE COAST. HOWEVER...MOST DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO HURRICANES ARE DUE TO 
FRESH WATER FLOODING FROM RAIN WELL AWAY FROM THE COAST...OFTEN 
AFTER THE WINDS HAVE WEAKENED. FROM 1970 TO 1999 59% OF ALL TROPICAL 
CYCLONE FATALITIES WERE CAUSED BY INLAND FLOODING. 63% OF THESE 
FATALITIES OCCURRED IN INLAND COUNTIES.

ONE INCH OF RAIN IS ABOUT 28 THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER PER ACRE...OR 
ABOUT 17 MILLION GALLONS PER SQUARE MILE. 

WIDESPREAD TORRENTIAL RAINS OFTEN IN EXCESS OF SIX INCHES CAN 
PRODUCE DEADLY AND DESTRUCTIVE FLOODS. HURRICANES DENNIS AND FLOYD 
DROPPED A TOTAL OF AROUND 20 INCHES OF RAIN IN TWO WEEKS...CAUSING 
CATASTROPHIC FLOODING IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEASTERN 
SOUTH CAROLINA. MORE THAN 2 MILLION POULTRY...200,000 HOGS...AND 50 
PEOPLE DIED IN THE FLOODING. 

HOWEVER...ALMOST ALL OF THE HUMAN DEATHS WERE THE RESULT OF 
MOTORISTS TAKING RISKS...DRIVING INTO WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. AS 
LITTLE AS 6 INCHES OF FLOWING WATER CAN FLOAT A VEHICLE...CAUSING 
MOTORISTS TO LOSE CONTROL. JUST LIKE USING SEAT BELTS...SAFE DRIVING 
MEANS RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR WHICH CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE...ESPECIALLY 
DURING DANGEROUS WEATHER. 

BEFORE THE START OF HURRICANE SEASON DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT YOU 
LIVE IN A POTENTIAL FLOOD ZONE. FIND OUT IF YOUR HOME OWNERS 
INSURANCE POLICY COVERS FLOODING OR IF YOU NEED TO PURCHASE 
SUPPLEMENTAL FLOOD INSURANCE. IT IS WISE TO DEVELOP A FLOOD 
EMERGENCY PLAN...INCLUDING WHICH ROADS WILL BE SAFE TO USE DURING A 
FLOOD.

TO MONITOR RIVER LEVELS...VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT 
WEATHER.GOV/ILM/HYDRO.

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