[BNAWX] Public Information Statement

[EMWIN Server]

NOUS44 KOHX 171143
PNSOHX
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-171600-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
600 AM CST THU FEB 17 2005

           ...FLOOD AND FLASH FLOOD AWARENESS DAY...

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH A LOOK AT FLOOD
AND FLASH FLOOD SAFETY.

FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS OCCUR EVERY YEAR IN TENNESSEE. GENERAL
RIVER FLOODING OCCURS SEASONALLY WHEN WINTER OR SPRING RAINS OR
TORRENTIAL RAINS ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORMS FILL RIVER BASINS
WITH TOO MUCH WATER TOO QUICKLY. FLASH FLOODS OCCUR SUDDENLY...
USUALLY OCCURRING WITHIN HOURS OF EXCESSIVE LOCALIZED RAINFALL.
THESE FLASH FLOODS CAN BECOME RAGING TORRENTS WHICH RIP THROUGH
RIVER BEDS...URBAN STREETS OR VALLEYS SWEEPING EVERYTHING BEFORE
THEM.

WHEN A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR COUNTY OR THE MOMENT
YOU FIRST REALIZE THAT A FLASH FLOOD IS IMMINENT...ACT QUICKLY TO
SAVE YOURSELF. YOU MAY ONLY HAVE SECONDS.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS IT IS POSSIBLE THAT HEAVY RAINS WILL
CAUSE FLASH FLOODING IN THE SPECIFIED AREA. STAY ALERT TO THE
WEATHER AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF WATER BEGINS TO RISE
OR IF YOU RECEIVE A WARNING. WATCH FOR DEVELOPMENT.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS FLASH FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IMMINENT
IN THE SPECIFIED AREA. MOVE TO HIGHER...SAFE GROUND IMMEDIATELY!

                               FLASH FLOOD SAFETY RULES

1.   GET OUT OF AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING. THIS INCLUDES DIPS...
     LOW SPOTS...VALLEYS...STREAM BANKS AND FLOOD PLAINS.

2.   AVOID ALREADY FLOODED AND HIGH VELOCITY FLOW AREAS. DO NOT
     ATTEMPT TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM ON FOOT WHERE WATER IS
     ABOVE YOUR ANKLES.

3.   IF DRIVING...KNOW THE DEPTH OF WATER IN A DIP BEFORE CROSSING.
     THE ROAD BED MAY NOT BE INTACT UNDER THE WATER.

4.   DON'T DRIVE INTO A POOL OF WATER OR WHERE WATER IS FLOWING.
     WATER UP TO THE BUMPER WILL LIKELY STALL A CAR.
5.   IF THE VEHICLE STALLS...ABANDON IT IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK
     HIGHER GROUND. RAPIDLY RISING WATER MAY ENGULF THE VEHICLE
     AND ITS OCCUPANTS AND SWEEP THEM AWAY.

6.   BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE
     FLOOD DANGERS. HEAVY RAIN EVENTS FREQUENTLY OCCUR AT
     NIGHT!

7.   DO NOT CAMP OR PARK YOUR VEHICLE ALONG STREAMS OR DRAINAGE
     AREAS...PARTICULARLY DURING THREATENING CONDITIONS.

8.   KEEP AWARE OF THE WEATHER SITUATION - LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER
     RADIO OR COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION.

NOAA WEATHER RADIO WILL CARRY INFORMATION AND SAFETY TIPS ALL THIS
WEEK CONTAINING IMPORTANT SAFETY RULES THAT YOU CAN USE TO PROTECT
YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES FROM THE DANGERS OF SEVERE WEATHER.

$$
END/ORCHANIAN

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