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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
813 AM EDT MON MAR 9 2026
..FLOOD SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK CONTINUES
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) HAS DECLARED MARCH 8TH THROUGH
MARCH 14TH AS FLOOD SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK. THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN BUFFALO WILL FEATURE INFORMATION ABOUT A DIFFERENT FLOOD
TOPIC EACH DAY DURING THE AWARENESS WEEK.
TODAY'S TOPIC: TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN
TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN, OR TADD FOR SHORT, IS A NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE CAMPAIGN USED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE HAZARDS OF DRIVING
A VEHICLE OR WALKING THROUGH FLOOD WATERS.
HUNDREDS OF SIGNS DEPICTING THE MESSAGE HAVE BEEN ERECTED AT LOW
WATER CROSSINGS DURING THE PAST DECADE. THE PHRASE TURN AROUND DON'T
DROWN HAS BECOME A CATCHPHRASE IN THE MEDIA, CLASSROOMS, AND EVEN AT
HOME. IT'S ONE THING TO SEE OR HEAR THE PHRASE, AND ANOTHER TO PUT
IT INTO PRACTICE.
EACH YEAR, MORE DEATHS OCCUR DUE TO FLOODING THAN ANY OTHER
THUNDERSTORM RELATED HAZARD. THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION REPORT THAT OVER HALF OF ALL FLOOD RELATED DROWNINGS
OCCUR WHEN A VEHICLE IS DRIVEN INTO HAZARDOUS FLOOD WATER. THE NEXT
HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF FLOOD RELATED DEATHS IS DUE TO WALKING INTO OR
NEAR FLOOD WATERS. PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE THE FORCE AND POWER OF
WATER. MANY OF THE DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES AS THEY ARE SWEPT
DOWNSTREAM.
JUST SIX INCHES OF FAST-MOVING WATER CAN KNOCK OVER AN ADULT. ONLY
EIGHTEEN INCHES OF FLOWING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES,
INCLUDING LARGE SUVS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL THE EXACT DEPTH OF
WATER COVERING A ROADWAY OR THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD BELOW THE
WATER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE AT NIGHT WHEN YOUR VISION IS MORE
LIMITED. IT IS NEVER SAFE TO DRIVE OR WALK THROUGH FLOODED WATERS.
ANY TIME YOU COME TO A FLOODED ROAD, WALKWAY, OR PATH FOLLOW THIS
SIMPLE RULE: TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE TADD PROGRAM AND FLOOD SAFETY TIPS VISIT:
HTTPS://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY/FLOOD-TURN-AROUND-DONT-DROWN
HTTPS://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY/FLOOD
JOIN US TOMORROW FOR INFORMATION ON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
RESOURCES.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
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