Published: March 16, 2008 11:29 pm      

Flood Safety Awareness Week begins

Most people who die in weather-related incidents aren’t killed by tornadoes, high winds, or lightning.

Floods are the number one weather killer across the country.

While Hunt County has been fortunate in not recording any fatalities due to flooding during the past year, it did experience one of its worst years ever for flooding during 2007. As such, there is a special emphasis this year on making the public aware of flooding’s dangers, during National Flood Safety Awareness Week, which begins today and continues through Friday, according to Gary Woodall, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Fort Worth.

“We don't have to think back too far to remember what a devastating impact flooding has on our state,” Woodall said. “The storms and flooding in 2007 were historic in nature, with nearly 60 flooding or high-water-related deaths across the state. The West Gulf River Forecast Center in Fort Worth issued over 2,500 flood forecasts, and nearly every major river system in the state experienced flooding.”

Hunt County was certainly not immune, as floods were an almost daily occurrence during the spring and summer of 2007.

The 11.51 inches of rain which fell during May made it the fifth wettest May on record and set the stage for a damp and cool summer. Never before had there been three straight months of above average rainfall during one summer in Greenville, and it was the wettest August in decades.

While there is no prediction the same scenario will play out again this year, Woodall noted how it could pay for local residents to be cautious of the possibility.

“As we've seen in the past, the majority of the flood deaths in 2007 were associated with flash floods, and the vast majority of the flash flood deaths were vehicle related,” Woodall said. “These statistics reinforce the need to promote the "Turn Around Don't Drown" campaign. Many of the deaths occurred at night, further compounding the flood danger.”

Greenville has already received more rain this year than it had received through the same point in 2007. As of Friday, Majors Field Municipal Airport in Greenville — the official monitoring site for the county utilized by the National Weather Service — had received 8.64 inches of rain. Through March 14, 2007, the airport had received 7.76 inches of precipitation.

The National Weather Service offers the following recommendations to prepare for the potential of floods and flash floods:

— When a flash flood WARNING is issued for your area, or the moment you realize that a flash flood is imminent, act quickly to save yourself.

— Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips, low spots, canyons, washes, and the like.

— Avoid already flooded and high velocity flow areas. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams.

— If driving, be aware that the road bed may not be intact under flood waters. Turn around and go another way. NEVER drive through flooded roadways.

— If the vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground if you can safely. Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and its occupants and sweep them away. Remember, it's better to be wet than dead.

— Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.

— Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly during threatening conditions.