000 
ABUS34 KBIS 312105
PNSBIS

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK NORTH DAKOTA
405 PM CDT TUE JUL 31 2001

...SAFETY RULES FOR FLASH FLOODS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTH DAKOTA HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH. THIS MEANS THAT RAPID FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS EXPECTED TO 
OCCUR IN THE AFFECTED AREA.

MOST FLASH FLOODS IN NORTH DAKOTA ARE CAUSED BY SLOW-MOVING THUNDERSTORMS
OR THUNDERSTORMS REPEATEDLY MOVING OVER THE SAME AREA. FLASH FLOODING
OCCURS WITHIN SIX HOURS OF THE RAIN EVENT. FLOODS KILL MORE PEOPLE EACH
YEAR THAN DO TORNADOES...LIGHTNING OR HURRICANES.

SIX INCHES OF FAST-MOVING FLOOD WATER CAN KNOCK YOU OFF YOUR FEET, AND A
DEPTH OF TWO FEET WILL FLOAT YOUR CAR. NEVER TRY TO WALK...SWIM...OR DRIVE
THROUGH SUCH SWIFT WATER. IF YOU COME UPON FLOOD WATERS...STOP! TURN AROUND
AND GO ANOTHER WAY.

NEARLY HALF OF ALL FLASH FLOOD FATALITIES ARE AUTO RELATED! LOOK OUT FOR
FLOODING AT HIGHWAY DIPS...BRIDGES...AND LOW AREAS. MANY FLASH FLOODS OCCUR
AT NIGHT...BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION.

STAY INFORMED ABOUT THE STORM BY LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND
COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS FLOODING
SITUATION.


...SAFETY RULES FOR SEVERE SUMMER STORMS...

A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. THE 
FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND SAFETY RULES MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE.

A WATCH MEANS THAT WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES. DURING A WATCH...
YOU SHOULD GO ABOUT YOUR NORMAL BUSINESS...BUT STAY UPDATED ON THE
LATEST WEATHER DEVELOPMENTS AND BE PREPARED TO GO TO A PLACE OF SAFETY.

A WARNING MEANS THAT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OR TORNADOES HAVE BEEN
REPORTED...OR HAVE BEEN DETECTED BY RADAR.  PERSONS IN THE WARNED AREA
SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

TORNADOES ARE NATURES MOST VIOLENT STORMS. IN A HOME...THE BEST SHELTER
IS IN THE BASEMENT UNDER HEAVY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...GET
TO THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. GET INTO A SHORT-SPANNED
STRUCTURE SUCH AS A CLOSET...INTERIOR HALL OR A WINDOWLESS BATHROOM. STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS. PROTECT YOUR HEAD WITH WHATEVER YOU CAN...A
HEAVY BLANKET OR EVEN YOUR HANDS.

IN A SCHOOL...OFFICE OR OTHER TYPE OF INSTITUTIONAL BUILDING...GO QUICKLY TO
A BASEMENT IF AVAILABLE. IF NONE...GO TO A CENTRAL HALL OR CORRIDOR ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE. KEEP AWAY FROM OUTSIDE WALLS...DOORS AND WINDOWS.
STAY OUT OF LONG-SPANNED STRUCTURES SUCH AS AUDITORIUMS...AND GYMNASIUMS. IF
CAUGHT THERE...GET UNDER OR NEXT TO SOMETHING STURDY OR SEEK SHELTER IN A
NEARBY BATHROOM.

IF IN A CAR OR MOBILE HOME...SEEK SHELTER ON FOOT TO THE NEAREST REINFORCED
BUILDING. DO NOT TRY TO DRIVE AWAY FROM A TORNADO. IN OPEN COUNTRY...GET
INTO A DITCH...DEPRESSION OR CULVERT.  IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME...WHETHER
IT IS TIED DOWN OR NOT...ABANDON IT FOR A NEARBY SHELTER. OTHERWISE GET TO A
LOW LYING SPOT IN THE GROUND AND PROTECT YOUR HEAD.

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