PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
0800 AM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) HAS DECLARED MARCH 16 THROUGH
MARCH 22 AS FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK WILL FEATURE INFORMATION ABOUT A DIFFERENT
FLOOD TOPIC EACH DAY DURING THE AWARENESS WEEK.

TODAY`S TOPIC: TURN AROUND DONT DROWN

TURN AROUND DONT DROWN OR TADD FOR SHORT IS A NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE CAMPAIGN USED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE HAZARDS OF DRIVING
A VEHICLE OR WALKING THROUGH FLOOD WATERS.

THIS YEAR IS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TADD PROGRAM. HUNDREDS OF
SIGNS DEPICTING THE MESSAGE HAVE BEEN ERECTED AT LOW WATER CROSSINGS
DURING THE PAST DECADE. THE PHRASE TURN AROUND DONT DROWN HAS BECOME
A CATCHPHRASE IN THE MEDIA CLASSROOM AND EVEN AT HOME. ITS ONE THING
TO SEE OR HEAR THE PHRASE AND ANOTHER TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE.

FLOODING IS THE 2ND LEADING CAUSE OF WEATHER RELATED FATALITIES IN
THE U.S. (BEHIND HEAT). ON AVERAGE FLOODING CLAIMS THE LIVES OF 89
PEOPLE EACH 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 FLOOD WATERS. THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE
PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE THE FORCE AND POWER OF WATER ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
IS MOVING. THE GOOD NEWS IS MOST FLOODING DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE
WITH THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE.

JUST SIX INCHES OF FAST-MOVING WATER CAN KNOCK OVER AN ADULT. ONLY
EIGHTEEN INCHES OF FLOWING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES
INCLUDING LARGE SUVS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL THE EXACT DEPTH OF
WATER COVERING A ROADWAY OR THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD BELOW THE
WATER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE AT NIGHT WHEN YOUR VISION IS MORE
LIMITED. IT IS NEVER SAFE TO DRIVE OR WALK THROUGH FLOOD WATERS. ANY
TIME YOU COME TO A FLOODED ROAD WALKWAY OR PATH FOLLOW THIS SIMPLE
RULE: TURN AROUND DONT DROWN.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE TADD PROGRAM VISIT
HTTP://TADD.WEATHER.GOV. FOR FLOOD SAFETY TIPS VISIT OUR NEWLY
REDESIGNED WEBSITE AT WWW.FLOODSAFETY.NOAA.GOV. JOIN US TOMORROW FOR
INFORMATION ON FLOOD HAZARDS.

TABITHA CLARKE
TABITHA.CLARKE@NOAA.GOV
SENIOR SERVICE HYDROLOGIST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK


Posted by VPost v1.9.130628

--- Virtual Advanced Ver 2 for DOS 
 * ORIGIN: The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org (1:19/33)