Du Bois, Pennsylvania

Today is the last day of flood safety awareness week.

Today is also the last day of Pennsylvania severe weather
awareness week.

Today's flooding topic: flood safety.

Is flooding really that big of a deal?
Flooding causes more damage in the United States than any other
weather related event... an average of 4.6 billion dollars per year
over the past 20 years. Flooding can occur in any of the 50 states
or U.S. Territories during any time of the year.

How can I find out if I am in danger from a flood?
NOAA Weather Radio all hazards is one of the best ways to receive
warnings from the National Weather Service. NOAA Weather Radio all
hazards is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting
continuous weather and river information direct from nearby NWS
offices. Also... the ahps web Page identifies where flooding is
occurring. Check it at:
weather.Gov/statecollege... all in lower case.
Then click on the rivers and lakes link on the left side.

How do I know how severe a flood will be?
Once a river reaches flood stage... the flood severity categories
used by the NWS include minor flooding... moderate flooding... and
major flooding. Each category has a definition based on property
damage and public threat.

The definitions of flood severity:

Minor flooding: minimal or no property damage... but possibly some
public threat or inconvenience.

Moderate flooding: some inundation of structures and roads near
streams. Some evacuations of people and... or Transfer of property
to higher elevations are necessary.

Major flooding: extensive inundation of structures and roads.
Significant evacuations of people and... or Transfer of property to
higher elevations.

The effects of floods vary locally. For each NWS river forecast
location... flood stage and the stage associated with each of the
NWS flood severity categories are established in cooperation with
local public officials. Increasing river levels above flood stage
constitute minor... moderate... and major flooding. Impacts vary from
one river location to another because a certain river stage height
in one location may have an entirely different impact than the same
level above flood stage at another location.

What is the difference between a flood and flash flood?
A flood occurs when prolonged rainfall over several days... intense
rainfall over a short period of time... or an ice or debris jam
causes a river or stream to overflow and flood the surrounding area.
Melting snow can combine with rain in the winter and early Spring.
Severe thunderstorms can bring heavy rain in the Spring and Summer.
Tropical cyclones can bring intense rainfall to the coastal and
inland states in the Summer and fall.

A flash flood occurs within six hours of a rain event... or after a
dam or levee failure... or following a sudden release of water held
by an ice or debris jam. Flash floods can catch people unprepared.
You will not always have time to prepare for a sudden flood. So...
if you live in areas prone to flash floods... plan now to protect
your family and property. The use of the word flash here is
synonymous with the word urgent.

Is there anything I can do to prepare for a flood?
Information on how you can reduce potential flood damage and what
to include in a family disaster plan can be obtained from the
American Red Cross. The NWS works with... and relies on... strategic
partners involved in floodplain management... flood hazard mitigation...
and flood preparedness to reduce the loss of life and property due
to floods.

When flooding threatens... listen to NOAA Weather Radio or your
favorite media outlet for warnings and statements. These warnings and
statements contain information about specific locations that will be
impacted... and the threats that are expected due to the flooding.

Today concludes National flood safety awareness week.
Please remember to practice flood safety all year long... as flooding
can happen during any season.