PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
602 AM CDT THU APR 23 2015 /502 AM MDT THU APR 23 2015/

...SOUTH DAKOTA SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...DAY FOUR
...FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS...

ON A NATIONAL LEVEL...
FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS CLAIM NEARLY 200 LIVES ANNUALLY...FORCE
300,000 PERSONS FROM THEIR HOMES...AND RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE
IN EXCESS OF 2 BILLION DOLLARS. CHARACTERISTICALLY...75 PERCENT
OF FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR AT NIGHT WITH HALF OF THE VICTIMS
DYING IN THEIR AUTOMOBILES OR OTHER VEHICLES. IT MAY BE DIFFICULT
TO BELIEVE...BUT MANY DEATHS OCCUR WHEN PERSONS KNOWINGLY DRIVE
AROUND ROAD BARRICADES INDICATING THE ROAD IS WASHED OUT AHEAD.

LAST YEAR IN SOUTH DAKOTA...
FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CROPS...
PROPERTY AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS BRIDGES AND ROADS LAST
YEAR.

ARE YOU PREPARED...
ASSUME A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCES 6 INCHES OF RAIN IN LESS THAN 6
HOURS TIME NEAR YOUR COMMUNITY. STORMS OF THIS MAGNITUDE OR
GREATER OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES EACH YEAR IN THE U.S...WOULD YOU KNOW
WHAT ACTION TO TAKE TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND
ON YOU FOR SAFETY? AFTER A MAJOR FLOOD EVENT ONE OF THE MOST
COMMON QUOTES FROM THE SURVIVORS OF THE FLOOD IS THE EXPRESSION
THEY DID NOT BELIEVE IT COULD HAPPEN TO THEM OR IN THEIR
COMMUNITY.

BEFORE THE FLOODING...
THERE IS NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO TO PREVENT THE OCCURRENCE OF
FLASH FLOOD PRODUCING RAINFALL. HOWEVER...BY STRIVING FOR
SOUND FLOOD PLAIN ZONING...DEVELOPING AN EMERGENCY ACTION
PLAN IN ADVANCE OF THE DISASTER...PURCHASING FLOOD INSURANCE
AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE THE FLOODING...AND BEING AWARE OF THE
DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALL AND
FLOODING...THERE IS A CHANCE OF DECREASING THE DEATH TOLL AND
PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT RESULTS FROM FLASH FLOODING. REMEMBER...TURN
AROUND DON`T DROWN.