FLASH FLOOD SAFETY...

A FLASH FLOOD IS A RAPID RISE IN CREEKS AND STREAMS...OR SERIOUS
URBAN FLOODING...CAUSED BY HEAVY RAIN FROM THUNDERSTORMS...THAT
POSES A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY. FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS KILL
MORE PEOPLE NATIONWIDE THAN ANY OTHER STORM HAZARD. IN ILLINOIS
MOST FLASH FLOODS OCCUR IN JULY AND AUGUST...AND THEY OFTEN OCCUR
AT NIGHT. LAST YEAR TWO PEOPLE DIED IN FLOODS IN ILLINOIS.

ABOUT HALF OF ALL FLASH FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.
DONT DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADS...ESPECIALLY IF THE WATER IS
MOVING RAPIDLY. FLOODED OR WASHED OUT ROADS ARE ESPECIALLY
DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. REMEMBER...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

DONT LET CHILDREN PLAY NEAR STORM DRAINS...CREEKS OR FLOODED
AREAS.

IF YOU LIVE NEAR A CREEK OR STREAM...EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUND IF
WATER RISES RAPIDLY OR IF A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED.

URBAN FLOODING IS ALSO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. HEAVY RAIN THAT
RESULTS IN FLOODING OF STREETS...VIADUCTS AND UNDERPASSES IN AN
URBAN AREA CAN POSE A THREAT TO MOTORISTS. HEAVY RAIN CAN ALSO
RESULT IN FLOODED BASEMENTS...PONDING OF WATER IN LOW SPOTS AND
RAPID FLOODING OF DRAINAGE DITCHES AND STORM SEWER SYSTEMS.

MARCH 14 THROUGH 18 IS NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK. FOR
MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.FLOODSAFETY.NOAA.GOV.