Turn Around Don't Drown™

This week NOAA is promoting flood safety awareness and not a minute too soon. With major flooding along the Illinois River in Missouri, Indiana and Illinois, from the excessive rain, and drastic rise in temperatures causing rapid snow melt, flood safety is a very important topic.The above image links to a map showing the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) flood predictions according to gauge measurement. The AHPS works to advance river and flooding forecasts and other water information to work to protect life and property. Yes, it is very important that you know about flood dangers, which are very real and happen to be among the top weather related killers. Link to flooding statistics of 2007.
The above shows the statistics regarding weather related deaths over the 10 year average and the 30 year average. You see that flooding is a great danger! In 30 year statistics, of the weather related deaths recorded (flood, lightning, tornado hurricane) over that period, the annual average is the highest for flooding. One important factor that I want you to notice is that the majority of flooding deaths occurred when people were in a vehicle or in the water. Today, NOAA has highlighted their chief flood related campaign as their flood safety awareness topic, "TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN™!" Why do flood related deaths occur...?

The main reason is people underestimate the force and power of water.

It takes only six inches of fast flowing water to sweep you off your feet.

Water only two feet deep can float away most automobiles.
~source

Here is a link to someTADD resources. It is a serious and real threat. If you see a flood covered road, it is for your own safety and your potential rescuers that you turn around to avoid being trapped in a current and swept away, leading to drowning. Water over roads can hide damage done to roads, where parts of roads have been washed away leaving them completely impassable, hazards left in the roadway, how strong the current is, or how potentially deep the flood water actually is. Floods can destroy roads. Floods can sweep away people and cars. Floods can kill. Over the past 30 years, floods have killed more people than any other recorded weather related threat.

Aside from that...

...NO TSTM AREAS FORECAST...

A RATHER QUIET WEATHER PATTERN IS IN PLACE ACROSS THE NATION TODAY WITH RELATIVELY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS IN MOST AREAS. SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY OVER SOUTH FL...AND ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. HOWEVER...THE THREAT OF LIGHTNING STRIKES IN BOTH AREAS APPEAR TOO LOW TO WARRANT AN OUTLOOK AT THIS TIME.

The SDS is killing me...

Have a great day! Sorry for the delay. Trouble getting an image to load.
~Dewdrop