Perkinsville, Vermont

... Flood safety awareness week concludes with flood preparedness and
safety...

To alert the public to potentially threatening flood conditions...
the National Weather Service issues flood watches and warnings.
Generally... a Flood Watch is issued when flooding is possible
within the next 36 hours. A flood or Flash Flood Warning indicates
that flooding is imminent or already occurring.

There are several different types of flood warnings issued by the
National Weather Service.

Flood warnings for major rivers. These warnings are issued
specifically for major rivers... and include forecasts of water
levels at specific points along the river. Some floods occur
seasonally when winter or Spring rains coupled with melting snows
cause rivers to overflow their banks. Prolonged heavy rains from
decaying hurricanes or tropical systems can also produce river
flooding.

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.

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.

For each NWS river forecast location... flood stage and the stage
associated with the NWS flood severity categories are established in
cooperation with public officials.

Flood warnings for small rivers and streams. These warnings are
issued on a County by County basis for the smaller rivers and
streams. These smaller rivers and streams may or may not have river
gage information available.

Flash flood warnings. These warnings are issued when rapid... life
threatening rises in water levels are expected on rivers... small
streams... or in urban areas. When a Flash Flood Warning is issued or
flash flooding is observed... time is of the essence. Immediate
action must be taken to protect life and property.

Flash floods occur over a very short period of time... often within a
few hours of a rain event. Several factors contribute to flash
flooding. The two key elements are rainfall intensity and duration.
Intensity is the rate of rainfall... and duration is how long the
rain lasts. Topography... soil conditions... and ground cover also
play an important role. A dam or levee failure... or sudden release
of water held by an ice or debris jam can also lead to flash floods.
Many times there is little opportunity for advance warning.

Urban and Small Stream flood advisories. These statements are issued
when minor nuisance flooding... such as ponding of water on roads...
is expected for urban areas or small rural streams. This type of
minor flooding happens when the normal drainage is unable to handle
the volume of runoff from heavy rain or snow melt. Ice or snow may
contribute to the flooding by blocking drainage ditches and
culverts.

The risk from flooding can be reduced by following one basic
rule... stay away from flood waters! Before and during a flood...
awareness and preparation are key. Know your flood risk and
elevation above flood stage. Do your local streams or rivers flood
easily? If so... be prepared to move to a place of safety. Know your
evacuation routes.

Assemble a disaster supplies kit containing a first aid kit... canned
food and can opener... bottled water... rubber boots and gloves... a
NOAA Weather Radio and battery powered radio... a flashlight... and
extra batteries.

Stay away from areas subject to flooding. This includes dips... low
spots... creek beds... canyons... and ravines. Avoid already flooded
areas... and streams and rivers with high velocity flows. Do not
attempt to cross flowing streams.

If driving... be aware that the Road bed may not be intact under
flood waters. Turn around and go another way if you encounter a
flooded roadway. If the vehicle stalls... leave it immediately seek
higher ground. Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and sweep
it away. Be especially cautious at night when flood waters are more
difficult to see.

Children should never play around high water... fast running streams...

Storm drains... or culverts. Rocks and stream banks can be slippery...
and the rapidly flowing flood waters can quickly carry a child or
adult away.

Know the river conditions before swimming or wading in a river. When
river flows are high... a normally calm and quiet Swimming Hole can
become life threatening. This can be true even if the river is not
in flood. If there have been recent heavy rains... remember that
stream and river flows can remain elevated for days or even weeks
afterward. In Vermont and northern New York over the past several
years... deaths have resulted when swimmers were overcome by rapidly
flowing rivers.

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 NWS web Page at www.Weather.Gov provides
forecasts and warnings and identifies where flooding is occurring.
And local radio... television... and print media are crucial in the
process of notifying and warning the public of flood threats.

On the internet... visit the following sites for more information.
Www.Redcross.Org for flood safety information. The federal Alliance
for safe homes at www.Flash.Org has information on flood proofing
your home.

The NWS works with and relies on strategic partners in flood plain
management... flood hazard mitigation... flood preparedness... and
flood warnings to reduce the loss of life and property due to
floods. Key partners include the US geological survey... fema... the
National hydrologic warning Council... the association of state flood
plain managers... the American Red Cross... the National safety
Council... the federal Alliance for safe homes... the weather channel
and other media outlets... and many other government and private
sector organizations.