PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
WED MAY 23 2007

THIS IS NATIONAL HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK. IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO 
PREPARE FOR ANOTHER HURRICANE SEASON. HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS EACH 
YEAR ON JUNE 1ST AND ENDS NOVEMBER 30TH. BEING PREPARED CAN MAKE A 
BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR ABILITY TO COPE WITH THESE VIOLENT STORMS.

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.

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.  IN 1999...HURRICANES DENNIS AND 
FLOYD DROPPED A TOTAL OF AROUND 20 INCHES OF RAIN IN TWO 
WEEKS...CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FLOODING IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND 
NORTHEAST 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. THIS 
HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN...IN SPITE OF ALL WARNINGS. JUST LIKE USING 
SEAT BELTS...SAFE DRIVING MEANS RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR WHICH CAN SAVE 
YOUR LIFE...ESPECIALLY DURING DANGEROUS WEATHER. 

TURN AROUND - DON'T DROWN!

TO MONITOR RIVER LEVELS...VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/ILM AND 
GO TO THE LAKES AND RIVERS LINK.