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Deciphering advisories, watches, and warnings: Understanding weather alertsFlash flood warning: Take action!<\/p>\nAt 1:50 a.m. on Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a lakeshore flood warning valid for Monday between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. for Erie and Chautauqua counties.<\/p>\n
The weather service comments, “Significant lakeshore flooding expected. Rapid rises are expected Monday morning with the highest levels late Monday morning and afternoon.”<\/p>\n
“The rapid rise in water levels will result in lakeshore flooding along the Lake Erie and Upper Niagara River shores. Along the Lake Erie shore, flooding is likely along Route 5 in Hamburg, Buffalo Harbor and Canalside, Dunkirk Harbor, and other flood prone locations,” explains the weather service. “A Lakeshore Flood Warning means lakeshore flooding is occurring, is imminent, or is expected to occur. For your safety, stay off breakwaters, piers, rock outcroppings and beaches! Waves are often larger than they appear and can easily wash you away. Expect significant beach erosion and debris, local road closures and extremely dangerous boating conditions.”<\/p>\n
Deciphering advisories, watches, and warnings: Understanding weather alertsFlash flood warning: Take action!<\/p>\n
A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. If you are in a flood-prone area, move immediately to high ground. A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain.<\/p>\n
Flood warning: Take action!<\/p>\n
A flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.<\/p>\n
Flood advisory: Be aware:<\/p>\n
A flood advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning. However, it may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and\/or property.<\/p>\n
Flood watch: Be prepared:<\/p>\n
A flood watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.<\/p>\n
When floods strike: Guidelines from the weather service for your protection<\/p>\n
In flood-prone regions or while camping in low-lying areas, understanding and following the weather service flood safety guidelines can be a lifesaver:<\/p>\n
Seek higher ground:<\/p>\n
If you reside in a flood-prone region or are camping in low-lying terrain, the first step to safety is relocating to higher ground.<\/p>\n
Adhere to evacuation orders:<\/p>\n
When local authorities issue an evacuation order, promptly comply. Before leaving, secure your home by locking it.<\/p>\n
Disconnect utilities and appliances:<\/p>\n
If time allows, disconnect your utilities and appliances. This reduces the risk of electrical hazards during flooding.<\/p>\n
Avoid basements and submerged areas:<\/p>\n
Steer clear of basements or rooms where water has submerged electrical outlets or cords. This helps prevent electrical accidents.<\/p>\n
Evacuate promptly for safety:<\/p>\n
If you notice sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping, or popping noises, evacuate immediately. Avoid any water that may be charged with electricity.<\/p>\n
Stay away from floodwaters:<\/p>\n
Never attempt to walk through floodwaters. Even just 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.<\/p>\n
Seek high ground if trapped:<\/p>\n
In the event you become trapped by moving water, make your way to the highest point available and contact emergency services by calling 911.<\/p>\n
During heavy rainfall, there is a risk of flooding, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Remember to never drive through water on the road, even if it seems shallow. According to the weather service, as little as 12 inches of rapidly flowing water can carry away most cars. Stay safe by being prepared and informed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At 1:50 a.m. on Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a lakeshore flood warning valid for Monday between…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":71782,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[136,138,137],"class_list":{"0":"post-71781","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-erie","8":"tag-erie","9":"tag-erie-headlines","10":"tag-erie-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71781"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71781\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}