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NCZ087-096-097-099>101-SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046-231000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
600 AM EST TUE MAR 22 2005 
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED MARCH 21 THROUGH 26 FLOOD
SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON
WILL FEATURE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL TOPIC EACH DAY DURING THE 
AWARENESS WEEK. TODAY'S TOPIC: TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN...TADD FOR 
SHORT.

TADD IS A NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO WARN PEOPLE OF 
THE HAZARDS OF WALKING OR DRIVING A VEHICLE THROUGH FLOOD WATERS. 

WHY IS TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN SO IMPORTANT? 

EACH YEAR, MORE DEATHS OCCUR DUE TO FLOODING THAN FROM ANY OTHER 
SEVERE WEATHER RELATED HAZARD. THE MAIN REASON IS PEOPLE 
UNDERESTIMATE THE FORCE AND POWER OF WATER. MORE THAN HALF OF ALL 
FLOOD RELATED DEATHS RESULT FROM VEHICLES BEING SWEPT DOWNSTREAM. OF 
THESE, MANY ARE PREVENTABLE. 

WHAT CAN I DO TO AVOID GETTING CAUGHT IS THIS SITUATION?

FOLLOW THESE SAFETY RULES: 
MONITOR THE NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS FOR VITAL WEATHER RELATED 
INFORMATION. 

IF FLOODING OCCURS, GET TO HIGHER GROUND. GET OUT OF AREAS SUBJECT 
TO FLOODING. THIS INCLUDES DIPS, LOW SPOTS, AND SO ON. 

AVOID AREAS ALREADY FLOODED, ESPECIALLY IF THE WATER IS FLOWING 
FAST. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOWING STREAMS. TURN AROUND DON'T 
DROWN. 

ROAD BEDS MAY BE WASHED OUT UNDER FLOOD WATERS. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH 
FLOODED ROADWAYS. TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN 

DO NOT CAMP OR PARK YOUR VEHICLE ALONG STREAMS, PARTICULARLY DURING 
THREATENING CONDITIONS. 

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE FLOOD 
DANGERS.

$$

RAN