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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ 
505 AM MST TUE MAR 18 2014 
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) HAS DECLARED MARCH 16 THROUGH 
MARCH 22 AS FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. THE NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE IN PHOENIX WILL FEATURE INFORMATION ABOUT A DIFFERENT FLOOD 
TOPIC EACH DAY DURING THE AWARENESS WEEK. 

TODAY'S TOPIC: TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN

TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN...OR TADD FOR SHORT...IS A NOAA NATIONAL 
WEATHER SERVICE CAMPAIGN USED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE HAZARDS OF 
DRIVING A VEHICLE OR WALKING THROUGH FLOOD WATERS. 

THIS YEAR IS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TADD PROGRAM. HUNDREDS OF 
SIGNS DEPICTING THE MESSAGE HAVE BEEN ERECTED AT LOW WATER CROSSINGS 
DURING THE PAST DECADE. THE PHRASE "TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN" HAS 
BECOME A CATCHPHRASE IN THE MEDIA...CLASSROOM...AND EVEN AT HOME. 
IT'S ONE THING TO SEE OR HEAR THE PHRASE...AND ANOTHER TO PUT IT 
INTO PRACTICE.     

FLOODING IS THE 2ND LEADING CAUSE OF WEATHER RELATED FATALITIES IN 
THE U.S. (BEHIND HEAT). ON AVERAGE...FLOODING CLAIMS THE LIVES OF 89 
PEOPLE EACH YEAR. MOST OF THESE DEATHS OCCUR IN MOTOR VEHICLES WHEN 
PEOPLE ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. MANY OTHER LIVES 
ARE LOST WHEN PEOPLE WALK INTO FLOOD WATERS. THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE 
PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE THE FORCE AND POWER OF WATER...ESPECIALLY WHEN 
IT IS MOVING. THE GOOD NEWS IS MOST FLOODING DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE 
WITH THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE.

JUST SIX INCHES OF FAST-MOVING WATER CAN KNOCK OVER AN ADULT. ONLY 
EIGHTEEN INCHES OF FLOWING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES... 
INCLUDING LARGE SUVS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL THE EXACT DEPTH OF 
WATER COVERING A ROADWAY OR THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD BELOW THE 
WATER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE AT NIGHT WHEN YOUR VISION IS MORE 
LIMITED. IT IS NEVER SAFE TO DRIVE OR WALK THROUGH FLOOD WATERS. ANY 
TIME YOU COME TO A FLOODED ROAD...WALKWAY...OR PATH...FOLLOW THIS 
SIMPLE RULE: TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE TADD PROGRAM...VISIT 
HTTP://TADD.WEATHER.GOV. FOR FLOOD SAFETY TIPS...VISIT OUR NEWLY 
REDESIGNED WEBSITE AT WWW.FLOODSAFETY.NOAA.GOV. JOIN US TOMORROW FOR 
INFORMATION ON FLOOD HAZARDS.