...2006 NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK...

NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCLUDES ITS ANNUAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CAMPAIGN WITH THE THEME OF FLOOD SAFETY.

FLASH FLOODS AND FLOODS ARE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH THUNDERSTORMS IN THE UNITED STATES…AVERAGING 106 DEATHS PER YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES.

FLOODING CAN OCCUR ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE IN MONTANA. SIX INCHES OF FAST-MOVING FLOOD WATER CAN KNOCK YOU OFF YOUR FEET. A DEPTH OF 2 FEET WILL FLOAT MOST VEHICLES…INCLUDING SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. WHILE MOST FLOODS CANNOT BE PREVENTED...THERE ARE SIMPLE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE AND PROPERTY.

IF FLOODING OCCURS

*  MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY AND STAY AWAY FROM FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

*  DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO PLAY NEAR HIGH WATER…STORM DRAINS OR DITCHES. HIDDEN DANGERS OFTEN LIE BENEATH THE WATER.

*  FLOODED ROADS CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE HIDDEN BY FLOODWATERS. NEVER DRIVE ON A FLOODED ROAD.

*  DO NOT CAMP OR PARK YOUR VEHICLE ALONG STREAMS OR WASHES...PARTICULARLY WHEN THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS EXIST.

*  BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE FLOOD DANGERS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES FLOOD WATCHES AND WARNINGS WHEN FLOODING IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION. IN ADDITION…NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES IN MONTANA WILL POST FLOOD WATCHES AND WARNINGS ON THEIR WEB SITES.

WEATHER.GOV/GLASGOW

WEATHER.GOV/BILLINGS

WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS

WEATHER.GOV/MISSOULA