Watson, Minnesota

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Flood Warning for significant creek rises in...
extreme northwestern Renville County in central Minnesota...
south central Chippewa County in west central Minnesota...

* until 1230 PM CDT Friday

* at 1243 PM CDT... local law enforcement officials reported flooding
in the warned area. Officials indicated that the Hawk Creek has
opened up in Clara City... but not downstream at Maynard and water
from melting snow upstream will cause significant rises downstream
in Maynard later today. The local cemetery in Maynard has already
flooded due to the Hawk Creek rising... and local officials have
already begun to sandbag for threaten structures in Maynard.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include... Maynard and
areas downstream to Minnesota Falls... and further downstream to
the Minnesota river.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

To report flooding... have the nearest law enforcement agency relay
your report to the National Weather Service forecast office in the
Twin Cities.


Lat... Lon 4498 9536 4493 9535 4487 9541 4474 9539
      4476 9546 4484 9552 4492 9552


Jlt

1238 PM CDT Thu Mar 18 2010

The Flood Warning continues for
the Minnesota river at Granite Falls.
* At 7:00 am Thursday the stage was 886.9 feet.
* Minor flooding is forecast.
* Flood stage is 888.0 feet.
* Forecast... rise above flood stage by tomorrow March 19th late
morning and continue to rise to near 891.1 feet by early Wednesday
morning March 24th. Additional rises are possible.
* Flood history... this level compares to a previous crest of 891.6
feet on Apr 27 2001.

1238 PM CDT Thu Mar 18 2010

The Flood Warning continues for
the Minnesota river at Montevideo.
* At 11:00 am Thursday the stage was 15.1 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring and major flooding is forecast.
* Flood stage is 14.0 feet.
* Forecast... the river will continue rising to near 17.9 feet by
early Monday morning March 22nd then begin falling. Additional rises are
possible.
* Impact... at 18.0 feet... sanitary sewers begin to be affected at this
level.
* Flood history... this level compares to a previous crest of 18.3 feet
on Mar 29 2009.

... Day 4 of 2010 National flood safety awareness week...

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

Today's flood safety theme is determining your flood risk and
buying flood insurance to protect against loss. Everyone lives
in a flood zone... whether that risk be low... moderate... or
high. Over a typical 30-year home mortgage... floods are nearly
three times more likely to occur than a fire. Put another
way... your home has the same chance of being flooded as your
car being stolen... yet few people have flood insurance. Even
low hazard flood areas are at risk... about one in three flood
insurance claims each year are paid to homeowners living
outside of high-risk areas.

You may think home owner's insurance covers floods... but in
reality most home owner's insurance does not cover flooding...
and just a few inches of water can cause thousands of dollars
in damage. Homeowners... renters... and business owners are
eligible to Purchase flood insurance as long as their
community participates in the National flood insurance program
or N-f-I-p.

For a list of communities that are eligible in Minnesota for
the program please reference.

Http://www.Fema.Gov/cis/MN.Pdf (lower case with the exception
of mn)

For a list of communities that are eligible in Wisconsin for
the program please reference.

Http://www.Fema.Gov/cis/WI.Pdf (lower case with the exception
of wi)

The N-f-I-p is a federal program enabling property owners to
Purchase flood insurance at reasonable rates. It takes 30 days
after Purchase for a policy to take effect... so it is important
to buy insurance before floods threaten. Now is a good time to
buy flood insurance... ahead of Spring flood melt and the Summer
thunderstorm seasons.

For a summary of what is covered both structurally as well as
content wise please reference.

Http://www.Floodsmart.Gov/floodsmart/pdfs/nfip_summary_of_
coverage.Pdf

Note that while structurally a basement is covered... personal
property items are not... so homeowners should plan to move
these items to a higher elevation if at all possible.

For a quick reference on flood insurance basics in Minnesota
please reference

Http://www.Dnr.State.MN.US/waters/watermgmt_section/flodplain
/flood_insurance.Html

More information about the flood insurance program in
general... see the federal emergency management
agency web site

Www.Floodsmart.Gov

To buy flood insurance... contact an insurance agent in your
area.

Additional information about National Weather Service flood
warnings... advisories... and flood safety is available at...
www.Weather.Gov/floodsafety