Turn Around Don't Drown™ Pays Dividends in Hawaii

The Honolulu Forecast Office began aggressively promoting NOAA's National Weather Service, Turn Around Don't Drown™ campaign in November as part of an effort to boost flash flood safety awareness throughout the Hawaiian Islands. This simple message to avoid driving through flooded roadways payed dividends during this rather active 2003-2004 rainy season.

Kevin Kodama, (right) Senior Service Hydrologist said, "We are promoting Turn Around Don't Drown™ through our web page, in regular broadcasts on NOAA Weather Radio, and through the media. At an outreach event in Hilo, Hawaii, two families specifically mentioned the Turn Around Don't Drown™ message in their decision not to drive through roadways flooded by torrential rains on January 23, 2004, a decision which may have saved them from unnecessary injury or death."