
755 
WGUS71 KBOX 281957
FFSBOX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
357 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-
357 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 HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE RESPONSE IN RIVERS AND STREAMS IN 
NORTHWEST MASSACHUSETTS.

AT 250 PM EDT...SKYWARN SPOTTER REPORTS AND ADDITIONAL REPORTS 
INDICATED THAT MAJOR FLOODING WAS OCCURRING IN NORTHWEST 
MASSACHUSETTS.  

THE FOLLOWING GAGED RIVER LOCATIONS INDICATED THAT MODERATE...MAJOR 
OR RECORD FLOODING WAS OCCURRING:

GREEN RIVER AT COLRAIN.
NORTH RIVER AT SHATTUCKVILLE.
DEERFIELD RIVER AT CHARLEMONT.
DEERFIELD RIVER AT WEST DEERFIELD.

SIGNIFICANT FLOODING MAY ALSO BE OCCURRING ON THE WEST BRANCH 
WESTFIELD RIVER IN HUNTINGTON. 

THERE ARE LIKELY SIGNIFICANT FLOOD ISSUES OCCURRING ON OTHER STREAMS 
AND RIVERS AS WELL...PARTICULARLY ON THE EAST SLOPES OF THE 
BERKSHIRES IN FRANKLIN AND HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES. 

SOME REPORTS RECEIVED INCLUDE...5 TO 6 FEET OF WATER AT EXIT 24 ON 
ROUTE 5 IN NORTHAMPTON WITH AT LEAST 2 CARS FLOATING DOWN THE ROAD.  
ALSO IN NORTHAMPTON...THE MILL RIVER HAS RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF 
ROAD CLOSURES. 

A HOUSE WAS REPORTED TO BE SWEPT AWAY ON THE GREEN RIVER IN COLRAIN. 
A COVERED BRIDGE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE COLLAPSED INTO A RIVER IN 
GREENFIELD. NUMEROUS ROADS WERE CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING IN 
GREENFIELD. 

THE SHELTER IN GREENFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS REPORTED TO BE GETTING 
FULL...AND OPENING OF A SECOND SHELTER WAS IN PROGRESS.  

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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