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Alabama, Jefferson

Public Information Statement

Statement as of 2:30 AM CDT on March 19, 2010


... This is National flood safety awareness week...

Your National Weather Service (nws) invites your participation in
the fifth annual National flood safety awareness week.

Today's theme is flood safety and preparation. Floods happen... an
average of 99 deaths have occurred between 1977 and 2006. In 2009
there were three deaths in Alabama as a result of flooding or flash
flooding.

Flooding can occur in any of the 50 states or U.S. Territories any
time of the year. Good preparation and knowing what to do in a flood
will increase your safety and possibly your survival.

The National Weather Service (nws)... along side government and
private sector partners... informs communities across the United
States how to become aware of flood risks and how to properly react
when a flood threatens. Knowing what to do before... during and after
a flood can save lives and reduce injuries and property damage.

NOAA all hazards weather radio is one of the best ways to receive
warnings from the NWS. NOAA all hazards radio is a nationwide
network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather and river
information direct from nearby NWS offices. Also... the NWS web
Page (www.Weather.Gov/water) identifies where flooding is occurring.

A river flood occurs when prolonged rainfall over several days...
intense rainfall over a short period of time... or an ice or debris
jam causes a river or stream to overflow and flood the surrounding
area. Melting snow can combine with rain in the winter and early
Spring... severe thunderstorms can bring heavy rain in the Spring and
Summer... or tropical cyclones can bring intense rainfall to the
coastal and inland states in the Summer and fall.

A flash flood occurs within six hours of a rain event... or after a
dam or levee failure... or following a sudden release of water held
by an ice or debris jam. Flash floods can catch people unprepared.
You will not always have a warning that these deadly... sudden floods
are coming. So... if you live in areas prone to flash floods...
plan now to protect your family and property. The use of the word
"flash" here is synonymous with "urgent".

An areal Flood Warning is flooding that is broader in the area
affected and in the time frame the event occurs. Areal flooding can
be caused by steady moderate rain that occurs over several hours, and
causes a gradual build-up or ponding of water that eventually results
in flooding. Although areal flooding may take longer to develop than
flash flooding, it can be just as dangerous.

Some flood safety rules...

- respect the power of moving water.

- Never to swim, drive, walk or run through a flooded area.

- Keep a safe distance from the banks of swiftly moving creeks,
stream and ditches.

- Monitor children closely when streams are high.

- If you encounter high water or flooding, turn around... don't drown.

Some flood safety preparation tips...

- prepare a family disaster plan.

- Check if your insurance covers flood damages. If not... get
flood insurance.

- Keep insurance... important documents... and other valuable items
in a safe deposit box.

- Assemble a disaster supplies kit... be sure to include prescription
medications... food and water.

- Find out where you can go if ordered to evacuate.

- Make a keep-in-touch arrangement with relatives and friends.

Refer to Red Cross or federal emergency management agency web sites
for ideas and examples of disaster plans and disaster kits.

The NWS works with and relies on strategic partners involved in
floodplain management... flood hazard mitigation... flood preparedness
... And flood warnings to reduce the loss of life and property due
to floods. Key partners include the U.S. Geological survey...
fema... the National hydrologic warning Council... the association of
floodplain managers... the American Red Cross... the National safety
Council... the federal Alliance for safe homes... the weather channel
... Other media outlets... and many other government and private
sector organizations.

For more information contact roger McNeil... service hydrologist...
(e-mail roger.Mcneil@noaa.Gov) at telephone number 205-664-3010.



Weather Severe Map
Alabama - Flood Warning , Public Information Statement
Arizona - Wind Advisory
Arkansas - Flood Warning
California - Wind Advisory , Record Report
Colorado - Winter Storm Warning , Winter Weather Advisory , Public Information Statement
Florida - Flood Warning , Coastal Flood Statement , Fire Weather Warning , Fire Weather Warning, Fire Weather Watch , Fire Weather Watch , Public Information Statement
Georgia - Flood Warning , Public Information Statement
Idaho - Public Information Statement
Illinois - Flood Warning , Flood Advisory
Indiana - Flood Warning
Iowa - Flood Warning , Areal Flood Warning , Flood Warning , Hydrologic Statement , Record Report
Kansas - Flood Warning , Winter Weather Advisory , Winter Storm Watch , Public Information Statement
Kentucky - Flood Warning
Louisiana - Flood Warning
Massachusetts - Areal Flood Warning , Flood Warning , Flood Warning, Areal Flood Warning
Michigan - Flood Advisory , Record Report
Minnesota - Flood Warning, Areal Flood Warning , Flood Warning , Areal Flood Warning , Areal Flood Warning , Record Report , Public Information Statement
Mississippi - Flood Warning
Missouri - Flood Warning , Winter Storm Watch
Montana - Winter Weather Advisory , Record Report
Nebraska - Flood Warning , Winter Weather Advisory , Winter Storm Warning , Hydrologic Statement , Public Information Statement
Nevada - Wind Advisory
New Hampshire - Flood Warning
New Jersey - Flood Warning
New Mexico - Winter Storm Watch , Winter Storm Warning , Fire Weather Watch
New York - Public Information Statement
North Carolina - Flood Warning , Public Information Statement
North Dakota - Flood Warning , Flood Warning, Areal Flood Warning , Areal Flood Warning , Areal Flood Watch , Areal Flood Watch , Areal Flood Advisory, Areal Flood Watch , Public Information Statement
Ohio - Flood Warning
Oklahoma - Winter Storm Watch , Special Weather Statement
Oregon - Record Report
South Carolina - Flood Warning
South Dakota - Flood Warning , Areal Flood Warning , Areal Flood Warning , Flood Warning, Areal Flood Warning , Public Information Statement
Tennessee - Flood Warning , Public Information Statement
Texas - Flood Warning , Wind Advisory , Winter Storm Watch , Fire Weather Watch , Special Weather Statement , Public Information Statement
Utah - Wind Advisory , Winter Storm Warning , Winter Weather Advisory , Record Report
Vermont - Public Information Statement
Virginia - Public Information Statement
Washington - Record Report
Wisconsin - Flood Warning , Record Report
Wyoming - Winter Weather Advisory , Winter Storm Warning , Record Report