000 NOUS45 KPUB 051634 PNSPUB COZ058>089-093>099-060445- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 1034 AM MDT SUN JUL 5 2009 THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF FLASH FLOOD SAFETY RULES THAT CAN BE PASSED ALONG TO RESIDENTS OF AND VISITORS TO SOUTHERN COLORADO. DO NOT DRIVE OR WALK INTO WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. THE ROADWAY OR PATHWAY MAY BE WASHED OUT...AND WATER COULD BE MUCH DEEPER THAN YOU THINK. KEEP CHILDREN AND OTHERS AWAY FROM FAST FLOWING WATER AND STORM DRAINS...WHICH COULD BECOME DEADLY DURING HIGH WATER. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE OR WALK INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER MAY BE TOO DEEP TO ALLOW YOU TO CROSS SAFELY. FAST FLOWING WATER ONE AND A HALF FEET DEEP CAN EASILY FLIP A VEHICLE OVER OR CARRY IT DOWN A CREEK OR RIVER. WHETHER ON FOOT OR IN A VEHICLE...FIND HIGHER GROUND DURING HIGH WATER SITUATIONS. KEEP CHILDREN AWAY FROM FAST FLOWING WATER. IF A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT...IT MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES. WHETHER IN A VEHICLE OR ON FOOT...DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS YOUR PATH. NEVER TRY TO CROSS SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER ON FOOT...BECAUSE YOU COULD BE SWEPT AWAY IN A MATTER OF SECONDS BY THE POWERFUL FORCE OF THE RUSHING WATER. IF A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT...IT MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. AT NIGHT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE FLOOD SITUATIONS DEVELOPING. THE FLOODING RAIN MAY BE MANY MILES AWAY FROM YOU...AND YOU COULD FACE QUICKLY RISING WATER WHILE LITTLE OR NO RAIN IS FALLING IN YOUR AREA. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE RELATIVE TO CREEKS OR RIVERS...WHICH CAN BECOME KILLERS. IF A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT...IT MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARD TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. THE ROAD OR A BRIDGE MAY BE WASHED OUT AND THE FAST FLOWING WATER COULD BE SEVERAL FEET DEEP. DRIVING INTO THIS SITUATION COULD BE FATAL. DO NOT STAY IN LOW AREAS WHICH CAN FLOOD QUICKLY WHEN WATER IS ON THE RISE. GO TO HIGHER GROUND. $$