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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1104 AM CST Sat Mar 8 2025

...Public Information Statement...

...Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week Concludes...

With the peak of the 2025 severe weather season fast approaching,
the National Weather Service has designated the week of March 2nd
through March 8th as Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week. This is a
safety campaign designed to help residents in the states of
Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma prepare for the spring
severe weather season. During this week, the National Weather
Service will review the most important aspects of severe weather,
and highlight safety rules. A special public information statement
will be issued each day, along with various social media posts.

Today, we will cover two topics. The first topic for today
is...Flash flooding.

Flash flooding is one of the biggest weather-related killer in the
United States.

Few people realize the true power of water. Rapidly moving flood
waters only six inches deep can knock an adult off their feet. Two
feet of water can lift approximately 3000 pounds, which is the
weight of an average sized vehicle. Vehicles crossing a flooded
roadway can lose traction with the road, actually floating in some
cases. In some cases, water can erode the earth underneath a road,
causing it to wash out. If a vehicle becomes overturned, it can fill
with water, endangering the lives of its occupants. Flash flood
statistics indicate that half of the annual flood-related fatalities
are vehicle-related.

So how can we stay safe from the dangers associated with flash
flooding?

Avoid low-lying areas that are prone to flooding. Don`t camp or park
your vehicle along streams and washes. If your vehicle is suddenly
caught in rising water, leave it immediately and move to higher
ground.

Be especially cautious at night when it is more difficult to
recognize the dangers of flash flooding.

Lastly, never attempt to cross areas where water covers the road.
Remember the first safety rule of flash flooding, turn around, don`t
drown.

The final topic for today is...Mobile home safety.

Mobile homes are not a safe shelter when tornadoes threaten. NOAA
and FEMA recommend that mobile and manufactured home residents flee
their homes for sturdier shelter before storms with tornadoes hit.
On average, a total 72 percent of all tornado-related fatalities are
in homes and 54 percent of those fatalities are in mobile homes.
When you are in a mobile home, you are 15 to 20 times more likely to
be killed in comparison to when you are in a permanent home.

If you live in or have family that live in a mobile or manufactured
home, its important to identify a safer structure to evacuate to
before storms hit. Safer structures include single family homes,
designated tornado shelters, buildings built with reinforced
concrete, and community buildings like arenas, churches, and
industrial buildings.

Its important that mobile home residents monitor National Weather
Service forecasts and review their plan. If you are a mobile or
manufactured home resident, you need to know your evacuation route
from your home and how long it takes to evacuate to a safer place.
The day before, when tornadoes are predicted, coordinate with family
and friends to spend time at their home when the storms threaten or
identify a community place to go to. When a Tornado Watch is issued,
that is the time to evacuate to your safe place. In many cases, when
a Tornado Warning is issued, it may be too dangerous to take your
evacuation route, so its best to evacuate your mobile home before
warnings are issued and storms hit.

$$

Nuttall