

000 

WGUS75 KPUB 182126

FFSPUB

COC119-182230-



FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO

321 PM MDT WED AUG 18 2004



...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE HAYMAN BURN 

SCAR UNTIL 430 PM MDT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...



SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER THE HAYMAN BURN SCAR. RADAR 

INDICATES THAT UP TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER THE TRAIL 

CREEK AND LITTLE TURKEY CREEK BASINS SINCE 130 PM.



BE ALERT FOR FAST RISING WATER AND BE READY TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF

NECESSARY. DO NOT DRIVE OR WALK INTO WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. AS

LITTLE AS 6 INCHES OF WATER MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR

VEHICLE...AND 2 FEET OF RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES...

INCLUDING SUVS AND PICKUPS. NEARLY HALF OF ALL FLOOD FATALITIES ARE

VEHICLE RELATED. KEEP CHILDREN AND OTHERS AWAY FROM FAST FLOWING

WATER. FLOODING WILL OCCUR ALONG CREEKS...IN DRAINAGE AREAS...OVER

RURAL ROADS...IN NORMALLY DRY WASHES AND ARROYOS...AND OVER LOW LYING

LAND ALONG CREEK BANKS.



JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF RAINFALL ON A BURN SCAR CAN LEAD TO FLASH

FLOODING. WATER THAT IS NORMALLY ABSORBED BY VEGETATION...RUNS OFF

ALMOST INSTANTLY. THIS CAUSES CREEKS AND DRAINAGE AREAS TO FLOOD AT A

MUCH FASTER RATE THAN NORMAL. ADDITIONALLY...THE SOILS IN A BURN SCAR

BECOME VERY UNSTABLE WHEN IT RAINS. ENTIRE HILLSIDES CAN BREAK

AWAY...CREATING DEVASTATING ROCK SLIDES...MUDSLIDES...AND DEBRIS

FLOWS. ROADWAYS ARE OFTEN DESTROYED BY THE POWERFUL FORCE OF THE

RUSHING WATER AND DEBRIS...ESPECIALLY IF THEY PASS THROUGH A CREEK

BED OR OTHER DRAINAGE AREA.



WATCH FOR ROCKSLIDES AND MUDSLIDES IN STEEP TERRAIN. WHEN DRIVING...

SLOW DOWN TO AVOID HITTING ROCKS AND MUD ON THE ROADWAY.



$$

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