...2006 NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS
WEEK...
NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUES FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS
WITH THE THEME OF FLOODING.
FLOODS OCCUR
NATIONWIDE AND ARE THE DEADLIEST WEATHER RELATED KILLER IN THE UNITED STATES.
IN MONTANA…RIVER FLOODING…FLASH FLOODING AND ICE JAM
FLOODING ARE THE MOST COMMON FLOODS THAT OCCUR.
A FLOOD OCCURS BY AN
INCREASE OF WATER LEVEL IN AN ESTABLISHED WATERCOURSE…SUCH AS A STREAM…RIVER…OR
DITCH WHICH BECOMES INUNDATED. THE MOST COMMON TIME FOR MONTANA TO EXPERIENCE FLOODING IS DURING THE SPRING
SNOWMELT SEASON.
FLASH FLOODING IS A
SHORT TERM EVENT DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME…USUALLY LESS
THAN SIX HOURS. DAM OR LEVEE FAILURES AND ICE JAMS CAN ALSO CAUSE FLASH FLOODING
TO OCCUR.
ALL OF THESE TYPES
OF FLOODING CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING…SO YOU NEED TO TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY.
HERE ARE A FEW TERMS WHICH YOU MAY HEAR NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MONTANA USE RELATED TO FLOODING.
* A
FLOOD WATCH OR FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FLOODING TO
OCCUR.
* A
FLOOD WARNING OR FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IMMINENT.
* MINOR FLOODING IS WHEN MINIMAL OR NO PROPERTY DAMAGE IS EXPECTED TO
OCCUR…BUT THE FLOODING CAUSES SOME PUBLIC THREAT OR INCONVENIENCE.
* MODERATE FLOODING IS WHEN SOME INUNDATION OF STRUCTURES AND ROADS NEAR
STREAMS WILL OCCUR. SOME EVACUATION OF PEOPLE AND/OR TRANSFER OF PROPERTY TO
HIGHER GROUND IS NECESSARY.
* MAJOR FLOODING IS WHEN THERE IS EXTENSIVE INUNDATION OF STRUCTURES
AND ROADS ALONG WITH POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT EVACUATION OF PEOPLE AND/OR TRANSFER
OF PROPERTY TO HIGHER GROUND.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ABOUT FLOODING AND FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/FLOODSAFETY
OR THROUGH NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES IN MONTANA...
WEATHER.GOV/GLASGOW
WEATHER.GOV/BILLINGS
WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS
WEATHER.GOV/MISSOULA
www.weather.gov 
