Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
AP-UT-PSR-UT PublicInformationStatement
000
NOUS45 KPSR 181205
PNSPSR
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
505 AM MST 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 PHOENIX WILL FEATURE INFORMATION ABOUT A DIFFERENT FLOOD
TOPIC EACH DAY DURING THE AWARENESS WEEK.
TODAY'S TOPIC: TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN
TURN AROUND DON'T 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 DON'T DROWN" HAS
BECOME A CATCHPHRASE IN THE MEDIA...CLASSROOM...AND EVEN AT HOME.
IT'S 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 DON'T 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.
Delivered by Weather Underground Inc. Tue Mar 18 2014 8:06AM EDT
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
