Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

... This week is National flood safety awareness week...

Today is the last day of flood safety awareness week.

Today's topic: flood safety.

Is flooding really that big of a deal?

Flooding causes more damage in the United States than any other
weather related event. On average over the past 20 years...
floods have claimed nearly 100 lives and caused damages in excess of
5 billion dollars annually. Flooding can occur in any of the 50
states or United States territories at anytime of the year.

How can I find out if I am in danger from a flood?

NOAA Weather Radio all hazards is one of the best ways to receive
warnings from the National Weather Service. NOAA Weather Radio all
hazards is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting
continuous weather and river information direct from nearby National
Weather Service offices.

How do I know how severe a flood will be?

Once a river reaches flood stage... the flood severity categories
used by the NWS include minor flooding... moderate flooding... and
major flooding. Each category has a definition based on property
damage and public threat.

Minor flooding... minimal or no property damage... but possibly some
public threat or inconvenience.

Moderate flooding... some inundation of structures and roads near
streams. Some evacuations of people and... or Transfer of property to
higher elevations are necessary.

Major flooding... extensive inundation of structures and roads.
Significant evacuations of people and or Transfer of property to
higher elevations.

What is the difference between a flood and flash flood?

A flood occurs when prolonged rainfall over several days... intense
rainfall over a short period of time... or an ice or debris jam
causes a river or stream to overflow and flood the surrounding area.
Melting snow can combine with rain in the winter and early Spring.
Severe thunderstorms can bring heavy rain in the Spring and Summer.
Tropical cyclones can bring intense rainfall to the coastal and
inland states in the Summer and fall.

A flash flood occurs within six hours of a rain event... or after a
dam or levee failure... or following a sudden release of water held
by an ice or debris jam. Flash floods can catch people unprepared.
You will not always have a warning that these deadly... sudden floods
are coming. If you live in areas prone to flash floods... plan now to
protect your family and property. The use of the word flash here is
synonymous with urgent.

Is there anything I can do to prepare for a flood?

How to reduce potential flood damage and what to include in a family
disaster plan can be obtained from the American Red Cross. The
National Weather Service works with and relies on strategic partners
involved in floodplain management... flood hazard mitigation... flood
preparedness... and flood warnings to reduce the loss of life and
property due to floods. Key partners include the U.S. Geological
survey..fema... the National hydrologic warning Council... the
association of state floodplain managers... the American Red Cross...
the National safety Council... the federal Alliance for safe homes...
the weather channel... and other media outlets... and many other
government and private sector organizations.