Brownsville, Texas

... Flood safety awareness week continues...
... Today's theme is "turn around don't drown"...

Your National Weather Service (nws) in Brownsville invites your
continued participation in the fifth annual National flood safety
awareness week, March 15-19, 2010.

Today's theme is "turn around... don't drown"... or tadd. Tadd is an
effort to increase awareness of the dangers of driving over flooded
roads or walking in flooded areas. Too many people die due to
misjudging the power of moving water or their ability to navigate
flooded areas. Flooding can happen rapidly due to isolated thunderstorm
rains or slowly due to rainfall events that impact a large area. When
a Flash Flood Warning is issued by the National Weather
Service... motorists and pedestrians should stay at home or at work
if possible. It only takes six inches of water for a vehicle to lose
contact with the Road surface and most vehicles can be swept away in
18 to 24 inches of water. Sadly... many deaths could have been
prevented by simply turning around. A canceled... delayed or rerouted
trip is Worth the time and effort.

On August 18th, 2008... an area of slow moving thunderstorms produced
8 to 10 inches of rainfall near Roma, Texas in Starr County. The
heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding in the city of Roma as
well as Garceno and Escobares. Flooding in the urban areas was
followed with flash flooding as several arroyos in the area filled
rapidly with water and spilled into the already flooded area.
Numerous local roads and main streets were closed due to the heavy
rains. U.S. Highway 83 was reduced to two lanes between Roma and Rio
Grande City for most of the day and when the Arroyo quiote flooded,
the Highway had to be closed entirely as almost 3 feet of water
covered the roadway. Remember... it only takes six inches of water
for a vehicle to lose contact with the Road surface and most
vehicles can be swept away in 18 to 24 inches of water.

Some items to consider to increase your flood safety...
- get 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 it
is on flooded roads or a Flash Flood Warning has been issued.
- Flooded roads may be temporarily blocked by a "turn around
don't drown" sign or a barrier... do not drive around the barriers.
- Flooded roads may have hidden dangers... such as washed out Road
beds or underwater obstructions.
- Keep children away from flooded areas or areas of fast moving
water.
- Don't Camp near the river if there is a flash flood threat.
- Flooding can happen at night when it is harder to recognize
flood dangers.

Finally... remain alert to the latest information from the National
Weather Service by monitoring NOAA Weather Radio... our website... or
your favorite local radio or television broadcast. Remember... if any
type of flood related warning is in effect... consider postponing
travel that could put you and your family in danger!

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

The information about tadd can be found at www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/srh/tadd

Additional information about ahps and flood safety awareness week
is available at:

Www.Weather.Gov/floodsafety/

These statements and additional links and information can be found on
our website at

Http://www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/bro/?N=floodsafety