Flood Tips from the Office of Public Affairs Flood Tips from the NWS Office of Public Affairs Below are some ideas for stories or sidebar pieces relating to floods. Users such as emergency managers will eventually see graphics, including flooded area mapping, along with the text forecasts for periods of a few days out to several months in the future. Longer-range forecasts resulting from AHPS advanced modeling will help ecosystem managers, farmers, emergency managers, and many other water users prepare for the impact of events ranging from droughts to floods. Once it is implemented across the Nation, AHPS will provide river forecasts that account for precipitation already on the ground, along with precipitation and temperature forecasts and longer range climate predictions. Each year flooding kills more than 100 people in the U.S, more than half of those deaths take place in cars, and most of those deaths are avoidable.
More people die annually from flash floods than lightning, tornadoes or even hurricanes.
The National Weather Service has modernized its forecast and warning program, but better forecasts and earlier warnings won't help prevent loss of life and property without people taking appropriate action. Several nations are already sold on the capabilities of NWS hydrologic forecasting. For several years NOAA has been sharing its latest river forecasting techniques with Egypt and China, helping those countries better manage their water resources and improve their ability to forecast floods and droughts. NOAA's National Weather Service is also working with Mexico, Panama and South Africa on similar projects. Accurate and timely prediction of river flows leads to reduction of flood losses and more efficient water use during droughts.