[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Public Information Statement : PHI@ 3/20/2013 7:32:42 AM

[svrwx at wx3i.net]

NOUS41 KPHI 201130
PNSPHI
DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-
055-060>062-070-071-101>106-201530-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
730 AM EDT WED MAR 20 2013

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED MARCH 18 THROUGH MARCH 22 
AS FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN 
MOUNT HOLLY WILL FEATURE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL TOPIC EACH DAY 
DURING THE AWARENESS WEEK...


TODAY'S TOPIC: TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.

TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN, TADD FOR SHORT, IS A NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE CAMPAIGN USED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE HAZARDS OF 
WALKING, OR DRIVING A VEHICLE, THROUGH FLOOD WATERS.

IT FLOODS SOMEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES OR ITS TERRITORIES NEARLY 
EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. FLOODING CAUSES MORE DAMAGE IN THE UNITED 
STATES THAN ANY OTHER WEATHER RELATED EVENT, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 
EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN THE PAST THIRTY YEARS. AND FLOODING 
IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF WEATHER-RELATED DEATHS IN THE U.S. CLAIMING 
ON AVERAGE NEARLY ONE HUNDRED LIVES A YEAR. MOST OF THESE DEATHS 
OCCUR IN MOTOR VEHICLES WHEN PEOPLE ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED 
ROADWAYS. MANY OTHER LIVES ARE LOST WHEN PEOPLE WALK INTO OR NEAR 
FLOOD WATERS. THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE THE FORCE 
AND POWER OF WATER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S MOVING. THE GOOD NEWS IS 
THESE TYPES OF DEATHS AND RELATED INJURIES ARE PREVENTABLE WITH THE 
RIGHT KNOWLEDGE.

JUST SIX INCHES OF FAST-MOVING WATER CAN KNOCK OVER AN ADULT. AND IT ONLY
TAKES TWELVE TO EIGHTEEN INCHES OF FLOWING WATER TO CARRY AWAY MOST
VEHICLES INCLUDING LARGE SUVS. IF YOU COME TO AN AREA THAT IS 
COVERED WITH WATER, YOU WILL LIKELY NOT KNOW THE DEPTH OF THE WATER 
OR THE CONDITION OF THE GROUND UNDER THE WATER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY 
TRUE AT NIGHT WHEN YOUR VISION IS MORE LIMITED. PLAY IT SMART, PLAY 
IT SAFE. WHETHER DRIVING OR WALKING, ANY TIME YOU COME TO A FLOODED 
ROAD, WALKWAY, OR PATH, FOLLOW THIS SIMPLE RULE: TURN AROUND DON'T 
DROWN.

HERE ARE A FEW MORE TIPS TO KEEP YOU SAFE DURING A FLOOD:

ALWAYS PLAN AHEAD AND KNOW THE RISKS BEFORE FLOODING HAPPENS.

MONITOR NOAA'S ALL-HAZARDS RADIO, OR YOUR FAVORITE NEWS SOURCE, FOR 
VITAL WEATHER-RELATED INFORMATION BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER ANY 
DISASTER INCLUDING FLOODING.

IF FLOODING IS EXPECTED OR IS OCCURRING, GET TO HIGHER GROUND FAST! 
LEAVE TYPICAL FLOOD AREAS SUCH AS CANYONS, DITCHES, RAVINES, DIPS, OR 
LOW SPOTS.

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

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

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

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

NEVER CROSS ANY BARRIERS THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE BY EMERGENCY 
OFFICIALS. NOT ONLY IS THIS DANGEROUS, BUT MANY STATES AND 
COMMUNITIES HAVE LAWS AGAINST IT AND LEVY STEEP FINES AND POINTS 
AGAINST DRIVING RECORDS FOR PEOPLE THAT IGNORE BARRICADES OR OTHER 
ROAD CLOSURE INDICATORS.

ALWAYS PLAY IT SAFE, TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN!

JOIN US TOMORROW FOR INFORMATION ON FLOOD RISK AND FLOOD INSURANCE.

&&

IMPORTANT FLOOD WEBSITES...

NWS AHPS: HTTP://WATER.WEATHER.GOV/AHPS/
FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS: HTTP://WWW.FLOODSAFETY.WEATHER.GOV
TADD: HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/FLOODSAFETY/TADD.SHTML
NWS: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV

BE A FORCE OF NATURE:
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/COM/WEATHERREADYNATION/FORCE.HTML

$$