Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />A. We don't break the statistics down that way, but I would say <br />most were from flash floods. Certainly, they were in recent years. <br />The chief reason is the clement of surprise, of course. <br /> <br />Q. We seem to be hearing more flash-flood watches and warnings <br />broadcast over radio and TV these days. Is this somethin~ new? <br /> <br />A. Yes. Not until 1969, after the Camille flooding in Virginia. did <br />the Weather Service begin using the same watch and warning sys- <br />tem for flash floods as it has been using for so many years for tor- <br />nadoes and hurricanes. <br /> <br />Q. Is the hasic idea the same? <br /> <br />A. Yes. A flash-flood watch means weather conditions are such <br />that a flash flood may occur; a warning means the water is on the <br />ground and flooding is imminent. The watch is our way of provid- <br />ing that ex.tra margin of time to get ready which can be so important <br />with fast-breaking events. And occasionally it will be the only alert <br />put out. There may not be enough time for a warning, too. <br /> <br />Q. \Vhat should people do when they hear on radio or TV that a <br />flash.flood watch has been issued? <br /> <br />A. If you're in a nood-vulnerable area, it would be wise to plan <br />just what you will do if you have to move to safer ground. Keep a <br />weather eye out for signs of trouble. If you're traveling on roads <br />subject to flooding, it might be smart to check your road map for a <br /> <br />Alter the Rapid City, South Dakota, <br />floods 01 June 9, 1972, Canyon Lake was <br />gone. "It looked as though an insane <br />g;ant had slapped his palm into the <br />fakebed, emptying it:' an eyewitness <br />said. The lake emptied after the dam- <br />its remains are visible at right-gave <br />way, fi1ling Canyon Lake Park with tons <br />01 mud and debris. <br />(RfJpid City JournfJl phOtOgfflph) <br /> <br />possible detour. If you're in unfamiliar territory or on unimproved <br />roads, YOll might stop and ask local residents if they ex.pect trouble <br />ahead. <br /> <br />By all means, if you suspect the flooding might affect you, <br />keep listening to your radio or TV for later bulletins from the <br />weather office, and keep watching for early indications of nooding, <br /> <br />Q. Suppose the first thing I hear is the flash-flood warning for my <br />area? <br /> <br />A. Act quickly to save yourself. You may have only seconds. Fol- <br />low our flash-flood safety rules. <br /> <br />Q. Are you satL"ified with our present s'ystem of warnin~s for flash <br />floods? <br /> <br />A. No. There are many places in the country where we would <br />have nothing in the way of reports in the nighttime during sudden, <br />heavy rainfall. Many of these arc flash-flood prone areas. At present <br />only about 15 percent of our 5,000 reportIng stations are telemetered <br />so that we get precipitation reports day and night. In arcas where <br />we don't have telemetered networks, we're depending on local peo- <br />ple to provide information on rainfall, and they usually report only <br />during the day. So, for the most part, our warning system is a day- <br />time system. We really need an automated system, working 24 hours <br />a day. <br /> <br />continued <br />