FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK MARCH 16-20

Written by: Brian Neudorff

The week of March 16-20 is Flood Safety Awareness Week, each day the National Weather Service will highlight different ways floods occur and what you can do to save life and property. Flooding occurs in every state, in any month. Flooding kills more people than tornadoes, hurricanes and lightning strikes combined. The main reason is that people underestimate the force water can have.

“Floods claim nearly 100 lives and cost billions in property damage in the United States annually,” said Jack Hayes, director of NOAA's National Weather Service. “Spring is peak flood season in many parts of the country, but floods can happen anywhere, at any time of the year. Many lives could be saved by following some simple and essential flood safety tips.”

Perhaps the most important, the “Turn Around, Don't Drown” campaign. Over half of all flood-related deaths occur from people trapped in their vehicles. Many think that a small puddle is safe to drive through. However, it only takes six inches of water to lose control of your vehicle. Another foot can completely sweep it downstream.

“Knowing what you can do to protect against the impact of flooding is critical in keeping your family, home and financial well-being secure,” said Ed Connor, acting federal insurance administrator for FEMA’s Mitigation Directorate. “Purchasing flood insurance is one important step you can take now. Many residents incorrectly believe that homeowners insurance covers the costs of flooding, but in fact, only a flood policy can.”

The National Flood Insurance Program estimates that just one inch of water in a home can cause up to $10,000 in damage.

The National Weather Service, along with FEMA’s FloodSmart program, has launched a new Web page that shows the effects and cost of flooding to millions of people in the United States. The site also provides essential information on what to know and do before, during and after a flood, and a variety of safety tips and online tools, including one that lets them see whether their homes and businesses are threatened at various flood stages.

Tomorrow we will talk about National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service or AHPS for short.