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-------- Original Message --------
460
NOUS41 KWBC 101320
PNSWSH
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Headquarters Washington DC
820 AM EST Thu Mar 10 2011
To: Subscribers:
-Family of Services
-NOAA Weather Wire Service
-Emergency Managers Weather Information Network
-NOAAPORT
Other NWS partners and NWS employees
From: Dan Matusiewicz
NWS National Hydrologic Outreach Program Leader
Subject: 2011 Flood Safety Awareness Week March 14-18, 2011
NOAAs National Weather Service (NWS) has designated March 14-
18, 2011, as the annual Flood Safety Awareness Week. It floods
someplace in the United States or its territories nearly every
day of the year. In the past 30 years, floods have killed an
average of 95 people a year and have caused an average of $7.5
billion dollars in damages annually. The goals of Flood Safety
Awareness Week are to heighten public awareness of the risks
associated with floods and flash floods, inform the public about
NWS forecast and warning services and flood safety information,
and empower citizens to take actions necessary to protect their
lives and property.
Americans depend on river and flood forecasts issued by the NWS
throughout the year. Each geographic region of the United States
has one or more times of the year when flooding is an increased
concern. In the late fall and winter Powerful Pacific storms can
strike the West Coast causing extensive flooding. From late
winter into spring, people living across the northern third of
the nation closely monitor NWS forecasts when snow and ice can
melt quickly, sometimes causing ice jams and extensive river
flooding. In the spring and summer, the threat of a flash flood
from a thunderstorm is always a possibility almost anywhere in
the country. Each summer and fall, millions of people living
near the Gulf and East coasts listen keenly to tropical weather
reports to determine if their area will be impacted by a flood
from a tropical storm or hurricane.
NWS is committed to improving the timeliness and accuracy of
river and flood forecasts and warnings necessary to move people
out of harms way and save valuable resources.
Gary Carter, Director of the NWS Office of Hydrologic
Development, stated, Water resource issues, including floods,
profoundly affect our nations economy, policies and regulatory
frameworks. To address the growing water challenges and guide
critical decisions, NOAA is leading an interagency consortium
called Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS),
which consists initially of NOAA, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The consortium will
unify and leverage each agencys water science, observation and
prediction capabilities to improve water resources forecasts,
foster better communications and provide the common operating
picture required to mitigate the death and destruction caused by
major floods.
Dr. Thomas Graziano, Chief of the NWS Hydrologic Services
Division, stated, Population growth, climate change and the
increased habitation and economic development of flood prone
regions increase the flood threat and underscore the need for
improved science and services. Since no single agency has all of
the capabilities and resources needed to tackle these complex
issues, IWRSS provides the business model needed to facilitate
working together in the Information Age.
Extensive information about flooding and flood safety, including
educational materials, videos, brochures, and news articles can
be found online at:
http://www.weather.gov/floodsafety
Detailed information can be found on this web page about
important topics covered in the following paragraphs.
Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service
The Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) is the NWS
frontline solution for providing improved river and flood
forecasting and water information across America. AHPS provides
a suite of graphical and numeric products over the Internet to
assist the public, community leaders and emergency managers in
making better life and cost saving decisions about evacuations
and movement of property before flooding occurs. The broad reach
of AHPS extends the range of forecasts from short-term (up to 6
hours) to long-term (out to weeks and months). AHPS provides the
public with more detailed and accurate answers to the following
questions: How high will the river rise? When will the river
reach its peak? Where will the flooding occur? How long will the
flood last? How long will the drought continue? and How certain
is the forecast?
Your gateway to web resources provided through AHPS begins here:
http://water.weather.gov
Turn Around Dont Drown
Most flood-related deaths occur in motor vehicles when people
attempt to drive through flooded roadways. Dont underestimate
the power of flowing water across a road. NWS has developed the
flood safety slogan: Turn Around Dont Drown and hopes you will
remember these words when youre faced with a flooded roadway
and have an important decision to make. Be especially cautious
when driving at night when it is harder to recognize flood
dangers.
Floods, Droughts, and Other Related Phenomena.
Many parts of the nation will experience floods or flash floods
this year. In other areas, drought will prevail. Hydrologic
extremes have always plagued our vast nation. Tropical cyclone
inland flooding, snowmelt flooding, ice jams and debris flows
are just some of the flood-related phenomena which pose a threat
to Americans.
Flood Insurance
Flood losses typically are not covered in homeowner insurance
policies; however, flood insurance is available in communities
taking part in the Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA)
National Flood Insurance Program. FEMAs FloodSmart campaign
promotes the idea that all Americans should know their flood
risk and choose the appropriate flood insurance. For more
information on flood insurance, refer to:
http://www.floodsmart.gov
Flood Safety
NWS, along with government and private sector partners, educates
communities across the United States about flood risks and how
to respond to flood threat. Knowing what to do before, during
and after a flood can save lives and reduce injuries and
property damage.
NWS is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and
warnings for the United States and its territories. It operates
the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system
in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance
the national economy. Visit us online at:
http://www.weather.gov
NOAAs mission is to understand and predict changes in the
Earths environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface
of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine
resources. Visit us at:
http://www.noaa.gov
For more information, contact:
Dan Matusiewicz
NWS Hydrologic Services Branch
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Daniel.Matusiewicz@xxxxxxxx
National public information statements are online at:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/notif.htm
$$
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