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ABUS34 KHOU 241139
PNSHGX
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
638 AM CDT WED MAY 24 2006
TXZ229>234-239>247-251100-
ARANSAS-BEE-CALHOUN-DUVAL-GOLIAD-JIM WELLS-KLEBERG-LASALLE-LIVE OAK
MCMULLEN-NUECES-REFUGIO-SAN PATRICIO-VICTORIA-WEBB
638 AM CDT WED MAY 24 2006
..HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK...INLAND FLOODING
..WRITTEN BY NWS LAKE CHARLES...LA
STATISTICALLY...OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS...MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN
TROPICAL CYCLONES FROM INLAND FLOODING THAN FROM STORM SURGE...
TORNADOES...OR HIGH WINDS. INLAND FLOODING CAN BE A MAJOR THREAT TO
COMMUNITIES HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM THE COAST AS INTENSE RAIN FALLS
FROM THESE HUGE TROPICAL SYSTEMS.
INTENSE RAINFALL IS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE INTERNAL WIND SPEED
OF TROPICAL CYCLONES. IN FACT...SOME OF THE GREATEST RAINFALL AMOUNTS
OCCUR IN WEAKER STORMS THAT DRIFT SLOWLY OR STALL OVER AN AREA.
A RECENT DRAMATIC EXAMPLE OCCURRED IN 2001 WHEN TROPICAL STORM
ALLISON PRODUCED EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALL AND CATASTROPHIC FLOODS
IN THE HOUSTON AREA. AS ALLISON DRIFTED TO THE EAST AND THEN
NORTHEAST...HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLOODING CONTINUED FROM LOUISIANA...
TO NORTH CAROLINA...AND EVEN AS FAR NORTH AS MASSACHUSETTS. OVER 30
PEOPLE DIED IN THE HOUSTON AREA...AND NEARLY 5 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH
OF DAMAGES WERE INCURRED.
HERE ARE SEVERAL STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.
PROTECT YOUR PAST...
PLACE VALUABLES IN PLASTIC STORAGE CONTAINERS AND MOVE THEM TO THE
ATTIC OR OTHER ELEVATED LOCATION. FOR JEWELRY AND PHOTOS ON YOUR
WALLS...HAVE SMALL...EMPTY PLASTIC STORAGE CONTAINERS NEARBY SO YOU
CAN QUICKLY SCOOP UP YOUR BELONGINGS AND PLACE THEM IN ELEVATED
LOCATIONS.
PROTECT YOUR PRESENT...
PURCHASE INSURANCE THROUGH THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM. IT
WILL HELP YOU RECOVER FROM A FINANCIAL LOSS DUE TO FLOODING.
PROTECT YOUR FUTURE...
BEFORE A FLOOD...ELEVATE EXPENSIVE ITEMS SUCH AS OUTSIDE AIR
CONDITIONING UNITS. SEAL VENTS TO BASEMENTS TO PREVENT FLOODING.
DURING A FLOOD...IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF YOUR ELECTRICITY AT THE
CIRCUIT BREAKERS.
PROTECT YOUR PEACE OF MIND...
KNOW YOUR EVACUATION ROUTES. HAVE DETAILED MAPS TO NAVIGATE
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES IF THE USUAL ROADS ARE FLOODED. PLAN AHEAD FOR
THE FLOOD. WHERE WOULD YOU EVACUATE TO? WHERE IS THE CONTACT
INFORMATION FOR YOUR INSURANCE AGENT AND HOME-REPAIR CONTRACTOR? GET
ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS BEFORE A FLOOD OCCURS.
ABOVE ALL REMAIN CALM AND FOLLOW YOUR PLAN OF ACTION. MANY FLOOD
DEATHS RESULT FROM FEAR AND NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO. DO NOT LET THIS
HAPPEN TO YOU.
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