[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Public Information Statement : PHI@ 3/21/2013 7:26:03 AM

[svrwx at wx3i.net]

NOUS41 KPHI 211123
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 MT HOLLY NJ
723 AM EDT THU MAR 21 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: FLOOD RISK AND FLOOD INSURANCE

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 AND AN AVERAGE OF NINETY FIVE 
FATALITIES PER YEAR IN THE PAST THIRTY YEARS. FLOODING CAN OCCUR IN 
ANY OF THE FIFTY STATES OR U.S. TERRITORIES AT ANYTIME OF THE YEAR, 
SOMETIMES VERY QUICKLY. BEING PREPARED IN ADVANCE AND KNOWING A FEW 
FLOOD SAFETY TIPS WILL HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SURVIVE A FLOOD IF 
IT HAPPENS IN YOUR AREA.

ON MONDAY WE TALKED ABOUT FLOOD SAFETY AND RISK. KNOWING YOUR RISK IN
ADVANCE IS THE BEST WAY TO PREPARE FOR FLOODING OF ANY TYPE IN YOUR
LOCATION. MANY OF OUR PARTNERS PROVIDE INFORMATION TO HELP YOU 
DETERMINE IF YOU LIVE IN A FLOOD PRONE AREA. ALSO KNOWING IF THERE 
IS A DAM OR LEVEE SYSTEM IN YOUR AREA IS IMPORTANT. CONTACT YOUR 
LOCAL NWS OFFICE. IT IS A GREAT RESOURCE TO FIND OUT ABOUT DAMS AND 
LEVEES IN YOUR AREA AND THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. IF A DAM OR 
LEVEE FAILS, FLASH FLOODING CAN HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY AND YOU NEED TO 
KNOW WHAT TO DO BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

ON TUESDAY WE TALKED ABOUT HOW KNOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF 
FLOODS, HOW TO PREPARE FOR THEM, AND KNOWING THE ACTIONS TO TAKE 
DURING, AND AFTERWARDS CAN SAVE YOU TIME, MONEY, AND EVEN YOUR LIFE. 
TODAY WE COVER WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NATIONAL FLOOD 
INSURANCE PROGRAM.

IN 1968, CONGRESS CREATED THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM, OR 
NFIP, IN RESPONSE TO THE RISING COST OF TAXPAYER FUNDED DISASTER 
RELIEF FOR FLOOD VICTIMS AND THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF DAMAGE CAUSED 
BY FLOODS. FLOOD LOSSES AREN'T TYPICALLY COVERED BY YOUR HOMEOWNERS 
INSURANCE POLICY. SO IT'S A SMART IDEA TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED. 
OUR PARTNERS AT FEMA HAVE ONLINE MAPS THAT SHOW IF YOU ARE IN A 
FLOOD RISK AREA.

ONCE YOU KNOW YOUR RISK, YOU CAN PURCHASE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE 
FROM PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND AGENTS. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 
OVER ONE HUNDRED INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT SELL NATIONAL FLOOD 
INSURANCE COVERAGE, IN ADDITION TO SOME SIXTY THOUSAND INDEPENDENT 
INSURANCE AGENTS.

ANYONE IN A COMMUNITY THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE NATIONAL FLOOD 
INSURANCE PROGRAM CAN PURCHASE BUILDING AND OR CONTENTS COVERAGE, 
WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS. KNOWING YOUR LOCATION AND RISK WILL HELP 
DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY. CHECK OUT FEMA'S ONLINE MAP SERVICE 
CENTER TO DETERMINE YOUR RISK AND THEN TALK WITH YOUR INSURANCE 
CARRIER TO SEE IF THEY CAN PROVIDE FLOOD INSURANCE OR POINT YOU IN 
THE RIGHT DIRECTION IF THEY DON'T CARRY IT.

KNOWING YOUR FLOOD RISK AND ENSURING YOU HAVE THE RIGHT INSURANCE
COVERAGE AND PROTECTION CAN SAVE YOU A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY IN THE 
EVENT OF A FLOOD. PREPARE NOW AND BE A FORCE OF NATURE!

JOIN US TOMORROW FOR INFORMATION ON THE NWS ADVANCED HYDROLOGIC 
PREDICTION SERVICE AND PARTNER SERVICES.

&&

IMPORTANT FLOOD WEBSITES...

NWS AHPS: HTTP://WATER.WEATHER.GOV/AHPS/
FEMA/S MAP SERVICE CENTER: HTTPS://MSC.FEMA.GOV

NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM:
HTTP://WWW.FLOODSMART.GOV/FLOODSMART/

NWS: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV
NWS FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS: HTTP://WWW.FLOODSAFETY.NOAA.GOV

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

$$