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Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 19:22:15 -0500 (CDT)
From: MILWAUKEE AREA SKYWARN ASSOCIATION <svoros{at}execpc.com>
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Subject: FEMA urges Preparations for El Nino
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MASA ("May-sah")
Promoting severe weather Identification, Evaluation, & Reporting.
*****************************************************************
U.S. RESIDENTS URGED TO PREPARE IN ADVANCE FOR POTENTIALLY HEAVY RAINS AND
FLOODING EXPECTED TO ACCOMPANY THIS YEAR'S POWERFUL EL NINO
WASHINGTON September 12, 1997 -- Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) officials are urging U.S. residents to prepare now for increased
flooding expected in some areas of the country as a result of this year's
powerful tropical Pacific Ocean climate pattern called El Nino.
"It is less expensive to protect homes and property before they are
damaged than to repair them afterwards," FEMA Director James L. Witt said.
"We hope that increased awareness of the possible effects of El Niqo will
encourage people to take measures to reduce possible damage in the
future."
The El Nino climate pattern, characterized by warm, long-lived ocean
currents, can mean heavier than normal precipitation and above normal
temperatures for many areas in the United States. This year's El Niqo is
expected to be the most powerful since 1982-83. Wetter than usual weather
is being predicted for the southern part of the U.S. from California to
the East Coast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's Climate Prediction Center.
During 1982-83, El Nino resulted in extensive flooding in California, Utah
and Louisiana. Witt urged people to protect their property by purchasing
flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which
is available to
residents of communities that agree to adopt and enforce sound floodplain
management practices. To find out whether a community is participating in
the NFIP program, homeowners can call the NFIP general information
toll-free hotline, 1-800-638-6620.
Other flood protection measures may include:
' Elevating structure electric panels to at least 12 inches above the base
flood elevation level. The building permit office will have the base flood
elevation levels for local areas.
' Anchoring fuel tanks to prevent them from floating and tipping over.
' Elevating washers and dryers by placing them on a raised platform 12
inches above the base flood elevation.
' Relocating water and central heating systems out of areas that may be
subject to flooding.
' Not storing hazardous materials in flood-prone areas.
Witt said that FEMA is planning to conduct two El Niqo summits for
local and state government officials to help them lessen the potential
effects of El Nino. The first summit, for officials in the Western states,
is scheduled to be held in Los Angeles on Oct. 14-15. The location and
date of the second summit, for officials in the Southeastern U.S., will be
announced at a later date.
Please Note: Regular El Nino climate updates and predictions for the
coming seasons are available via NOAA's Climate Prediction Center web site
at http://nic.fb4.noaa.gov under the section entitled El Nino.
Radio actualities with information from NOAA and FEMA about El Nino are
available on the FEMA Radio Network (1-800-323-5248).
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Office of Emergency Information & Media Affairs --- Washington, D.C.
Information Available 24 hours a day . . .
... on the World Wide Web: http://www.fema.gov
... via fax-on-demand: phone in the U.S.A. (202) 646-FEMA (646-3362)
... via digital audio for broadcasters & print: contact eipa{at}fema.gov
and listen to the FEMA Radio Network on the FEMA Website using RealAudio
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