PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1230 AM EST FRI MAR 18 2005

THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK FOR NORTH CAROLINA. TODAY WE
WILL DISCUSS FLOODING...FLASH FLOODING...AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

HERE ARE SOME KEY FLOOD AND FLASH FLOOD TERMS...
A FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLASH FLOODING OR FLOODING IS POSSIBLE IN
THE DESIGNATED WATCH AREA...SO BE ALERT.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS A CATASTROPHIC FLOOD FROM A DAM BREAK OR
EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN POSES AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO LIFE AND PROPERTY
AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE EVACUATION.

WHEN YOU RECEIVE A FLASH FLOOD WARNING...IF ADVISED TO EVACUATE...DO
SO IMMEDIATELY. MOVE TO A SAFE AREA BEFORE ACCESS IS CUT OFF BY A
FLASH FLOOD.

A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT HEAVY RAIN IS CAUSING DANGEROUS PONDING
OF WATER ON ROADWAYS...OR CREEKS OR RIVERS ARE RISING OUT OF THEIR
BANKS. WHILE THE FLOODING IS NOT IMMEDIATELY LIFE THREATENING...
MOTORISTS AND INTERESTS IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD AVOID FLOODING.

AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS ISSUED FOR RAIN CAUSING
PONDING...MAINLY ON ROADWAYS THAT REQUIRES CAUTION BY MOTORISTS AND
OTHER INTERESTS.

BEFORE A FLOOD...HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO...KNOW YOUR FLOOD
RISK AND ELEVATION ABOVE RIVER FLOOD STAGE. DO YOUR LOCAL STREAMS OR
RIVERS FLOOD EASILY? IF SO...BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE.
KNOW YOUR EVACUATION ROUTES.

DURING A FLOOD...AVOID AREAS SUBJECT TO SUDDEN FLOODING. IF YOU COME
UPON A FLOWING STREAM WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD...STOP! THE DEPTH
OF WATER IS NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS. THE ROAD BED MAY BE WASHED OUT...AND
YOU COULD BECOME STRANDED OR TRAPPED. CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER PLAY
AROUND HIGH WATER OR STORM DRAINS.

DO NOT VISIT DISASTER AREAS. YOUR PRESENCE MIGHT HAMPER RESCUE AND
OTHER EMERGENCY OPERATIONS. KEEP A NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND A DISASTER
SUPPLY KIT READY TO USE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...GO TO
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY.PHP