ZCZC PWMPNSGYX DEF TTAA00 KPWM DDHHMM MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028-NHZ001>010-013-014-151200 PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME 700 AM EDT THU JUL 14 2005 The National Weather Service has declared the week of July 11th through 15th, HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK in Maine and New Hampshire. This is the fourth in a series of five public information statements to be issued by the National Weather Service Office in Gray, containing information on hurricanes and hurricane safety. INLAND FLOODING FROM TROPICAL STORMS AND HURRICANES When it comes to hurricanes, wind speeds do not tell the whole story. Hurricanes produce storm surges, tornadoes, and often the most deadly of all, INLAND FRESHWATER FLOODING. While storm surge is always a potential threat, more people have died from inland freshwater flooding during the last 30 years. Inland flooding can be a major threat to communities hundreds of miles from the coast as heavy rain falls from these huge tropical air masses. Of the 56 people who perished in 1999 from Hurricane Floyd, 50 drowned due to inland flooding. Twenty one years ago, in 1972, Hurricane Agnes produced floods in the Northeast United States which contributed to 122 deaths and $6.4 billion in damages. And in 1955, long after the winds from Hurricane Diane had subsided, the storm brought inland flooding to Pennsylvania, New York, and New England contributing to nearly 200 deaths and $4.2 billion in damages. Freshwater floods accounted for more than half of U.S. tropical cyclone deaths over the past 30 years and more than 75% of the children killed by tropical cyclones. These floods are why 63% of U.S. tropical cyclone deaths during that period occurred in inland counties. At least 23% of U.S. tropical cyclone deaths occur to people who drown in, or attempting to abandon, their cars. Here in New England, tropical systems can combine with mid-latitude weather systems (extra-tropical) to produce very heavy rains and flooding, even when the hurricane or tropical storm remains well offshore. In fact in 1996, a coastal storm that was fed tropical moisture from the circulation around Hurricane Lily which was well offshore produced from 4 to 19 inches of rain across southern and central New Hampshire and southwestern Maine and was responsible for 1 drowning death. Here are some tips to protect you and your home from flooding. 1. Develop a flood emergency action plan. 2. Determine whether you live in a flood-prone area. 3. If flooding is possible, move valuable items from the basements or first floor to higher floors in your home. Have a checklist of these items in your emergency action plan. 4. Keep abreast of road conditions through the news media. Move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood water. 5. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. 6. Do not attempt to drive through a flooded roadway. As little as six inches of rapidly moving water can cause some vehicles to be pushed off the roadway. Also, If you live in a flood-prone area, consider purchasing flood insurance. Flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance policies. Do not make assumptions; check your policy. The National Flood Insurance Program, is a pre-disaster flood mitigation and insurance protection program. The National Flood Insurance Program makes federally-backed flood insurance available to residents and business owners in certain communities. QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do the strongest hurricanes produce the greatest rainfall amounts? The most important factor in determining the rainfall from a hurricane or tropical storm is the forward speed of the storm. A slow moving or stalled tropical storm can produce considerably more rainfall in a given area than a fast moving intense hurricane. Hurricane Andrew produced rainfall amounts of between 7 and 8 inches across the south Florida peninsula as it ravaged the area with strong winds during August 1992. In comparison, Tropical Storm Alberto dumped more than 27 inches of rain in Americus, Georgia (21 inches in 24 hours) when it struck during July of 1994. In 1979, Tropical Storm Claudette brought 45 inches of rain to an area near Alvin, Texas. To get a very rough estimate of the rainfall potential from a particular storm, divide 100 by the forward movement of the storm. However, since rainfall varies considerably depending on your location with respect to the path of the storm and other weather features, check you local forecast to get a more accurate estimate. FACT FOR THE DAY: Historically, storm surge had been the leading cause of death during hurricanes; however, improvements in forecasting and communication has allowed potential victims to be evacuated from surge prone areas. These improvements have greatly reduced the number of storm surge deaths in the United States during the past 30 years. As seen in the table below, freshwater flooding is by far the leading cause of death from tropical cyclones. Tropical Cyclone Deaths (1970-1999) Cause Percent Freshwater Flooding 59% Wind 12% Surf 11% Offshore 11% Tornadoes 4% Storm Surge 1% Other 2% Here's a list of the other topics covered in statements issued this week: MONDAY - Tropical Cyclones, Tropical Storms, and Hurricanes--The Basics TUESDAY - Hurricane Winds and Tornadoes WEDNESDAY - Storm Surge and Marine Safety FRIDAY - The Forecast Process--Statements, Watches, and Warnings For additional information about hurricanes and hurricane safety, visit the National Hurricane Center's web site at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ JENSENIUS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY...MAINE NNNN