Today's topic will be flooding.

Flooding is a serious nationwide problem. Flooding causes more fatalities than any other type of severe weather.  Several factors contribute to flooding.  The two main factors are the intensity of rainfall and how long rain occurs over any given location.  Topography...soil type and soil moisture also play a role.

Flooding in North Carolina can occur many different ways. Slow moving thunderstorms can repeatedly move over the same location, days of steady rain can cause creek and river rises or thunderstorms moving across a metropolitan area can cause flooding due to the amount of runoff generated by urbanized areas.

Running water in the form of a flood can quickly become very deadly. A few inches of fast-moving flood water can knock you off of your feet while just six inches of flowing water can force a car off the road. In combination with the force of flowing water...water creates buoyancy. Two feet of water will float your car and wash you away.  Most flood deaths occur in automobiles.  When approaching water flowing over roadways, turn around and go the other way. Don't drown...turn around.

Knowing your area's flood risk is very important.  Check your homeowner's or renter's insurance.  Many policies do not cover flooding and many areas across North Carolina are subject to flooding.

Before rain and flood waters threaten...know your homes' elevation and know where you would go if you needed to evacuate. Sometimes your escape route can flood before your house. Just because areas around your home have never flooded before does not mean it will never flood.

When flooding is possible, the national weather service will issue a flash flood watch.  This tells you to remain alert to the possibility of heavy rain and flooding.  Once a flash flood warning is issued, then it is time to take action.  When a warning is issued for your area, it means that flooding has been reported or is imminent.

If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.  Move to a safe location before access is cut off by flood waters. Never allow children to play around high water, creeks, streams or storm drains.

When heavy rain and flooding threatens your area, stay informed by listening to NOAA weather radio, local television and radio.