Houma, Louisiana

... 2010 National flood safety awareness week...

... Today is the second day of National flood safety awareness week
2010...

Your National Weather Service office at New Orleans/Baton Rouge
Louisiana is Happy to have your participation in the annual National
flood safety awareness week... which will continue through March
19... 2010.

The theme today... March 16... is turn around... don't drown... or
T a d d. T a d d is an effort to increase awareness of the dangers
of driving over flooded roads or walking in flooded areas. Too many
people die when they misjudge the power of moving water or
overestimate their ability to navigate through flooded areas.

Due to the relatively flat terrain over much of southeast Louisiana
and south Mississippi... water often pools rapidly over low-lying
areas. Flooding can develop very quickly in thunderstorms and great
volumes of water can be released rapidly when breaches develop in
levees or dams. Water often rises rapidly in continuous... heavy
tropical rains. During widespread rainfall events over large
areas... flooding will usually develop slower but the floods will be
more extensive.

It only takes six inches of water for a vehicle to lose contact with
the Road surface. Most vehicles can be swept away in 18 to 24 inches
of water. Each year... more deaths occur due to flooding than from
any other severe weather related hazard. Sadly... many deaths might
have been prevented had the driver simply turned around or if a
pedestrian had paid attention to rising waters. A canceled...
delayed... or rerouted trip is Worth the time and effort.

To increase your flood safety...

Get to or stay on higher ground. Avoid low spots in the Road or
otherwise.

Turn around... don't drown. Cancel... delay... or reroute a trip if the
Route is over flooded roadways.

Flooded roads may have hidden dangers... such as missing bridges...
washed-out roadbeds... or underwater obstructions.

Do not drive around Road barriers. Pay attention to Road signs that
might signal a low water crossing or other flood hazard.

Keep children away from flooded areas or areas of fast-moving water.
Do not allow children to play near culverts... drains... or ditches.

Don't Camp near the river if there is a flash flood threat. In hilly
areas... a thunderstorm upstream can cause a rapid rise in the water
levels downstream.

Flooding can happen at night when it is harder to recognize flood
dangers. Travel familiar roads that are not prone to flooding when
possible.

Turn around... don't drown is a joint effort between the National
Weather Service and federal Alliance for safe homes.

Additional information about a h p S... turn around... don't drown...
and the 2010 flood safety awareness week is available at:

Www.Weather.Gov/floodsafety/

For more information contact the service hydrologist... Patricia
Brown at 9 8 5 6 4 5 0 5 6 5.