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Hurricanes snowmelt...rapid accumulation of rainfall all of these as well
as many other naturally occurring events can result in flooding that can threaten lives
and property across hundreds of miles. Worldwide, Floods and Flash floods account
for nearly 31% of all natural disasters making them the most commonly occurring natural disaster
on the planet. In the U.S floods have been documented in every state including Alaska
and Hawaii. Some floods develop slowly over a period of days or even weeks, while events
known as flash floods, can develop in just a few minutes and without visible signs of
rain. When flooding is expected across an area, forecasters at the National
Weather Service will place that location under a flood or flash flood warning. A
flood warning means that flooding is imminent or in some cases, already occurring. Once
a warning is issued, residents within the warning should take immediate precautions
to protect their lives and property. This includes moving away from rivers and streams and if
in a low lying area, moving to higher ground.
During this Flood Safety Awareness Week, take a little time to become familiar with
the risks that flooding poses to you and what you can do to better protect yourself from
these disasters. For more information on flooding and what you can do to protect
yourself and your property, visit the National Weather Service s Flood safety page at nws.noaa.gov/floodsafety