
551 
WGUS71 KBOX 282152
FFSBOX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
552 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011

MAC011-015-290115-
/O.CON.KBOX.FF.W.0011.000000T0000Z-110829T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
FRANKLIN MA-HAMPSHIRE MA-
552 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT FOR
HAMPSHIRE AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES...

...THIS IS A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR HAMPSHIRE AND FRANKLIN 
COUNTIES...

TORRENTIAL RAINS ASSOCIATED WITH IRENE FROM LAST NIGHT AND THIS 
MORNING CAUSED A SEVERE RESPONSE IN RIVERS AND STREAMS IN NORTHWEST 
MASSACHUSETTS.

AT 530 PM...SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS REPORTED SEVERE 
FLOOD CONDITIONS. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN WAS THE CITY OF 
GREENFIELD. IN THIS AREA...ABOUT 200 TO 250 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN 
EVACUATED ON VARIOUS STREETS...INCLUDING PEOPLE FROM A RETIREMENT 
HOUSING COMPLEX.  THE CITY SEWER TREATMENT PLANT WAS 
EVACUATED...WHICH HAS NOT OCCURRED BEFORE. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE 
OCCURRED TO A COVERED BRIDGE. I91 WAS REPORTED TO BE FLOODED DURING 
THIS AFTERNOON. 

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FLOODS OF RECORD OCCURRED AT THE FOLLOWING 
LOCATIONS TODAY...THE DEERFIELD RIVER IN WEST DEERFIELD...THE NORTH 
RIVER AT SHATTUCKVILLE...AND THE GREEN RIVER AT COLRAIN. THE 
DEERFIELD RIVER AT CHARLEMONT WENT INTO AT LEAST MODERATE FLOOD. 
FINAL DETERMINATIONS ON FLOOD CRESTS ARE DETERMINED BY THE UNITED 
STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

INDICATIONS ON THE SMALL STREAM GAGES ARE THAT THE UPPER REACHES OF 
MANY STREAMS ARE BEGINNING TO RAPIDLY RECEDE.  HOWEVER...RIVERS AND 
STREAMS MAY STILL BE RISING OR COMING INTO CREST AT DOWNSTREAM 
LOCATIONS. 

HEED ANY ADVICE FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS...AND EVACUATE IF ASKED TO DO 
SO.  THIS IS A SERIOUS FLOOD SITUATION!


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4263 7295 4267 7299 4270 7295 4274 7302
      4272 7228 4261 7223 4235 7231 4231 7221
      4225 7221 4219 7237 4223 7241 4223 7263
      4229 7261 4218 7270 4225 7282 4224 7291
      4234 7290 4233 7306

$$

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