Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Little Rock AR
600 AM CDT Wed Mar 20 2019

...Today's Topic for Flood Safety Awareness Week is Flood
Hazards...

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Little Rock, Arkansas, along
with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management has declared
March 18th through the 22nd as Flood Safety Awareness Week. Each
day during the awareness week will feature information about a
different flood related topic.

...Flood Hazards...

A flood is defined as any high flow, overflow, or inundation of
water that causes or threatens damage. Flooding can occur with
prolonged rainfall over several days, intense rainfall over a short
period of time, or when water from an existing source moves too
quickly. Brief descriptions of the various types of flooding you may experience are found below.

Flash Flooding: Flash flooding is a rapid and extreme flow of high
water into a normally dry area, or a rapid water level rise in a
stream or creek above a predetermined flood level beginning within
six hours of the causative event (such as intense rainfall, dam
failure, or ice jam).

River Flooding: River flooding occurs when rivers rise and overflow
their banks, inundating areas that are normally dry.

Tropical Systems and Coastal Flooding: At any time of the year, a
storm from over the ocean can bring heavy precipitation to the
coast and move inland across the midsouth. Whether such a storm is
tropical or not, prolonged periods of heavy precipitation can cause
freshwater flooding as the storm system moves inland. In addition
to freshwater flooding, tropical systems and nor'easters can bring
the threat of storm surge related coastal flooding.

Burn Scars/Debris Flows: Wildfires burn away the vegetation of
an area, leaving behind bare ground that tends to repel water.
When rain falls, it runs off a burn scar towards a low lying area
sometimes carrying branches, soil, and other debris along with it.
Without vegetation to hold the soil in place, flooding can produce
mud and debris flows.

Snowmelt: Flooding due to snowmelt most often occurs in the spring
when warming temperatures quickly melt the snow. The water runs
off the still partially frozen or already saturated ground into
nearby streams and rivers, causing them to rapidly rise and
sometimes overflow their banks.

Ice and Debris Jams: A backup of water into surrounding areas
can occur when a river or stream is blocked by a build-up of ice
or other debris.

Dry Wash: When heavy rain falls on dry land, the water rushes
toward low-lying areas. This may include dried up canyon or
stream beds. This can quickly turn a dry channel into a raging
river.

Dam Break and Levee Failure: A break or failure can occur with
little to no warning. Most often they are caused by water
overtopping the structure, excessive seepage through the
surrounding ground, or a structural failure.

&&

Understanding the different flood hazards and knowing the actions
to take before, during, and afterwards can help you protect your
life, the lives of your loved ones, and the your property. Prepare
now by visiting www.weather.gov/safety/flood

To contact us, email Senior Service Hydrologist Tabitha Clarke
at the National Weather Service in Little Rock. Her address is tabitha.clarke@noaa.gov

$$

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