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WGUS72 KTBW 141552

FFSTBW

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-142100-



FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL

1150 AM EDT FRI SEP 14 2001



...A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR HILLSBOROUGH...PINELLAS...SOUTHERN

PASCO...AND NORTHERN MANATEE COUNTIES UNTIL 1 PM...



...A FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES INTO SATURDAY FOR ALL OF WEST CENTRAL AND

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA...



THE FLOOD WATCH INCLUDES THE COUNTIES OF LEVY...CITRUS...HERNANDO...

SUMTER...PASCO...PINELLAS...HILLSBOROUGH...MANATEE...POLK...HARDEE...

HIGHLANDS...DESOTO...SARASOTA...CHARLOTTE AND LEE.



AT 1135 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR

INDICATED RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WITHIN THE AREAS

OF HEAVIEST RAINFALL...WHICH MAINLY EXTENDS FROM SARASOTA...

NORTHWARD TO CITRUS COUNTY...INCLUDING ALL OF TAMPA BAY. WEATHER

SPOTTERS HAVE REPORTED BETWEEN 3 AND 5 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE TAMPA

BAY AREA SINCE 7 AM THIS MORNING...WITH MANY LOW LYING AND POORLY

DRAINED AREAS FLOODED. AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 INCHES IS POSSIBLE IN

SOME AREAS BEFORE THE RAIN TAPERS OFF LATER TODAY.



A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.

RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS...SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS

NOW TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS SWIFTLY

FLOWING WATERS...OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH...BY FOOT OR BY

AUTOMOBILE. IF YOUR VEHICLE STALLS...ABANDON IT AND SEEK HIGHER

GROUND.



EXCESSIVE RUNOFF WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS AND

INTERSECTIONS. POOR DRAINAGE AREAS ARE MOST AT RISK. DO NOT DRIVE

THROUGH FLOODED ROADS

$$

MORALES

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