Floodwaters can be swift, powerful and, at times, deadly. Floods are the most frequent and costly natural disaster in the United States. Advanced planning can help protect lives and minimize property losses due to flooding.

With the spring approaching, Arlington is partnering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to promote National Flood Safety Awareness Week for March 18-22.

National Flood Safety Awareness Week is intended to highlight some of the many ways floods can occur, the hazards associated with floods, and what you can do to save life and property. As part of National Flood Safety Awareness Week, the City of Arlington Stormwater Management Division has developed a unique way of teaching about flood preparedness with the creation of a graphic novella, "The Rescue League Academy: Sink or Swim.' This novella demonstrates the importance of being prepared for floods in a way that people of all ages will enjoy. Readers follow Bianca, Shawn, Sonny, Sam, and Troy as they experience a major Texas flash flood. Included in the novella is a Flood Safety Checklist so that readers can get their family, home, workplace, or school ready before disaster strikes.

"The Stormwater Management Division is excited about promoting Flood Safety Awareness Week with our new flood preparedness novella' said Mandy Clark, Stormwater Engineering Operations Manager. "Floods can happen at anytime, which means we all need to have a plan in place. This week especially, we look forward to educating people about flood risks and measures they can take to protect themselves. It is important for people to be aware of the risks to their home by knowing if their home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area as well as knowing what to do during storm events. Simply, Flood Safety Awareness Week is an excellent time for individuals and communities to understand their flood risk and implement precautions to mitigate the threat to life and property.'

The Stormwater Management Division will also be providing pertinent flood safety and preparedness information throughout the week on the myarlingtontx.gov website, from information about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and minimizing losses to tips on what to do after a flood has occurred. In addition, Stormwater Management has partnered with Arlington Independent School District (AISD) high school science teachers to gear lessons toward flood and water related topics this week, with activities culminating in a flood preparedness competition.

According to NOAA, floods claim nearly 100 lives and cost billions in property damage in the United States annually. Thus, being aware of your own flood risk and what you can do about it is very important. Knowing whether you live in a flood zone or not is the first step you can take in protecting your family and your property. To find out more about National Flood Safety Awareness Week, flooding risks, and the NFIP visit www.FloodSmart.gov. To learn more about flooding in Arlington or to download the graphic novella, visitwebapps.arlingtontx.gov/tmp/stormwater. (Limited print copies of the novella will be available upon request.) If residents wish to determine their flood zone, they may view an interactive map showing their property atwww.gis.arlingtontx.gov/mapsonline.

"Flooding is the #1 leading cause of severe weather-related deaths in the US. We find this especially tragic as many of these are preventable. We believe the novella will provide citizens with an educational and entertaining lesson on how to prepare for such disasters' notes Dr. Brigette Gibson, Stormwater Education and Outreach Coordinator. "We want people, if or when confronted with flood waters, to know what to do and how to prepare.'