Severe Weather Awareness
Today we will discuss flooding.
Flooding and flood deaths are a serious nationwide problem. Nationwide flooding causes
more deaths than any other type of severe weather. Several factors contribute to flooding.
The two main factors are the intensity of rainfall and how long rain occurs over any given
location. Urbanization…topography...soil type and soil moisture also play a role.
Flooding in North Carolina can result from several different weather situations. Slow moving
thunderstorms can repeatedly move over the same location. Days of steady rain can cause
creeks and rivers to rise. And thunderstorms moving across metropolitan areas can cause
flooding due to the amount of runoff generated by urbanized areas.
Rushing water in the form of a flash flood can quickly become deadly. Just a few inches of
fast-moving flood water can knock you off of your feet while just a foot or two of moving water
can force a car off the road. In combination with the force of flowing water...water creates
buoyancy. Two feet of water will float most cars and wash them away. Most flood deaths
occur in automobiles. When approaching water flowing over the road, turn around and go the
other way. Turn Around...Don't Drown.
Knowing your area's flood risk is also very important. Check your homeowner's or renter's
insurance. Many policies do not cover flooding and many areas across North Carolina are
subject to flooding although not officially declared within a flood plain. Just because flood
damage is not in your insurance policy does not mean your house cannot flood.
Before rain and flood waters threaten, asses your flood risk and know where you would go if
you needed to evacuate. Sometimes your escape route can flood before your house. Also
realize, just because areas around your home have never flooded before does not mean you
will never experience a flood.
When flooding is possible, the National Weather Service will issue a Flood Watch. This tells
you to remain alert to the possibility of heavy rain and flooding. Once a flash flood warning is
issued, then it is time to take action. When a warning is issued for your area, it means that
flooding has been reported or is imminent. This is the time to closely monitor the situation
and move quickly if flood waters threaten.
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Move to a safe location before access is cut off by
flood waters. Never allow children to Play around high water, creeks, streams or storm drains.
When heavy rain and flooding threatens your area, stay informed by listening to NOAA
weather radio, local television and radio.
Flooding and flood deaths are a serious nationwide problem. Nationwide flooding causes
more deaths than any other type of severe weather. Several factors contribute to flooding.
The two main factors are the intensity of rainfall and how long rain occurs over any given
location. Urbanization…topography...soil type and soil moisture also play a role.
Flooding in North Carolina can result from several different weather situations. Slow moving
thunderstorms can repeatedly move over the same location. Days of steady rain can cause
creeks and rivers to rise. And thunderstorms moving across metropolitan areas can cause
flooding due to the amount of runoff generated by urbanized areas.
Rushing water in the form of a flash flood can quickly become deadly. Just a few inches of
fast-moving flood water can knock you off of your feet while just a foot or two of moving water
can force a car off the road. In combination with the force of flowing water...water creates
buoyancy. Two feet of water will float most cars and wash them away. Most flood deaths
occur in automobiles. When approaching water flowing over the road, turn around and go the
other way. Turn Around...Don't Drown.
Knowing your area's flood risk is also very important. Check your homeowner's or renter's
insurance. Many policies do not cover flooding and many areas across North Carolina are
subject to flooding although not officially declared within a flood plain. Just because flood
damage is not in your insurance policy does not mean your house cannot flood.
Before rain and flood waters threaten, asses your flood risk and know where you would go if
you needed to evacuate. Sometimes your escape route can flood before your house. Also
realize, just because areas around your home have never flooded before does not mean you
will never experience a flood.
When flooding is possible, the National Weather Service will issue a Flood Watch. This tells
you to remain alert to the possibility of heavy rain and flooding. Once a flash flood warning is
issued, then it is time to take action. When a warning is issued for your area, it means that
flooding has been reported or is imminent. This is the time to closely monitor the situation
and move quickly if flood waters threaten.
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Move to a safe location before access is cut off by
flood waters. Never allow children to Play around high water, creeks, streams or storm drains.
When heavy rain and flooding threatens your area, stay informed by listening to NOAA
weather radio, local television and radio.
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CarolinaForecast.com Providing local weather information for North and South Carolina Copyright 2007