627 NOUS41 KOKX 211040 PNSOKX CTZ005>012-NJZ002-004-006-103>108-NYZ067>075-078>081-176>179-221000- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 640 AM EDT FRI MAR 21 2014 ...THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK... TODAYS TOPIC IS FLOOD SAFETY. FLOODING CAN OCCUR FROM A VARIETY OF CAUSES ALL YEAR ROUND. SO...WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF...YOUR LOVED ONES AND YOUR PROPERTY FROM THE DANGERS OF FLOODING...THAT IS THE GOAL OF FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. FIRST AND FOREMOST...IF YOU ENCOUNTER A FLOODED ROAD...ESPECIALLY ONE IN WHICH WATER IS FLOWING OVER...TURN AROUND AND FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE. DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODED ROAD. YOU ARE PLACING YOURSELF AND THOSE WITH YOU IN GRAVE DANGER. THIS IS HOW 50 PERCENT OF ALL FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN THE UNITED STATES. TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP INFORMED OF THE LATEST FORECASTS ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE...WORK OR HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH A FLOOD PRONE AREA. NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES FLOOD WATCHES WHEN THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR FLOODING IN LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS AND ALONG STREAMS...CREEKS AND RIVERS. WHEN A FLOOD WATCH IS ISSUED ...IT MEANS THAT THERE IS ABOUT A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF FLOODING. WHEN A WATCH IS IN EFFECT...YOU SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR STREAMS NEAR YOUR RESIDENCE AND BE PREPARED TO EVACUATE AT A MOMENTS NOTICE SHOULD FLOODING OCCUR OR A WARNING IS ISSUED. IF YOU HAVE TO EVACUATE...YOU WILL WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU BRING ENOUGH SUPPLIES TO LAST FOR AT LEAST 3 DAYS OR LONGER. THIS INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE CHANGE OF CLOTHING FOR EACH PERSON...A BLANKET OR SLEEPING BAG PER PERSON...MEDICINE...A RADIO...CASH AND CREDIT CARDS AND SPECIAL ITEMS FOR THE ELDERLY...INFANTS OR DISABLED FAMILY MEMBERS. A FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED WITH AT LEAST 80 PERCENT FORECAST CONFIDENCE. WHEN YOU RECEIVE A FLOOD WARNING...EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY IF ADVISED TO DO SO. DO NOT DRIVE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO. GET OUT OF AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING. NEVER TRY TO WALK...SWIM...DRIVE OR PLAY IN FLOOD WATERS. YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE HOLES OR SUBMERGED DEBRIS. BE CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE FLOOD DANGERS. THE BEST WAY TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ON FLOOD WATCHES...WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IS THROUGH NOAAS ALL HAZARD RADIO...A SPECIAL KIND OF RADIO STATION DEVOTED TO WEATHER FORECASTS AND WARNINGS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OPERATES OVER 900 OF THESE RADIO STATIONS NATIONWIDE. BROADCASTS CAN BE HEARD FROM NEW YORK CITY AND MONTVILLE CT ON 162.55 MHZ...FROM RIVERHEAD ON 162.475 MHZ AND FROM MERIDEN ON 162.40 MHZ. MANY SCANNERS AND SPECIAL WEATHER RADIOS SOLD AT MOST ELECTRONICS STORES CAN PICK UP THE NOAA WEATHER RADIO FREQUENCIES WHEN THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A FLOOD WATCH OR WARNING. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FLOOD AWARENESS WEEK USE THIS WEB SITE... HTTP://WWW.FLOODSAFETY.NOAA.GOV IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...CONTACT GARY CONTE AT GARY.CONTE@NOAA.GOV OR NANCY FURBUSH AT NANCY.FURBUSH@NOAA.GOV.