The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for Northwestern Athens County until 945 AM, Friday, 3/31/17.

Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated that moderate rain was falling over the area. The rain will cause flooding. Up to two inches of rain have already fallen, and more rain is expected through the morning hours. Most of the rain is resulting in high runoff at this point. Area creeks and streams will come out of their banks and poor draining low lying areas will flood. Localized road flooding is also expected, especially in urban areas where drainage is poor and in low spots near streams.

Some locations that will experience flooding include Athens, Nelsonville, Glouster, Chauncey, Buchtel, Jacksonville, Murray City, Trimble, and Burr Oak State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS;
Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.

Please report Severe Weather to the National Weather Service by calling toll free, 800 401 9535, when you can do so safely.

You may also report severe weather by posting your report to the Charleston West Virginia National Weather Service Facebook Page, or by using the Twitter Hashtag, #NWSRLX.

This is the Ohio state-wide TORNADO DRILL!! Consider what actions you would need to take if there was a tornado know!

Whether practicing in a tornado drill or sheltering during a warning, you are encouraged to remember DUCK!

D – Go DOWN to the lowest level

U – Get UNDER something

C – COVER your head

K – KEEP in shelter until the storm has passed

• Take responsibility for your safety and be prepared before a watch or warning is issued. Meet with household members to develop a disaster plan to respond to tornado watches and warnings. Conduct regular tornado drills. When a tornado watch is issued, review your plan – don’t wait for the watch to become a warning. Learn how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at the main switches.
• Despite Doppler radar, tornadoes can sometimes occur without any warning, allowing very little time to act. It is important to know the basics of tornado safety. Know the difference between tornado watches and tornado warnings.
• Tune in to one of the following for weather information: NOAA Weather Radio, local/cable television (Ohio News Network or the Weather Channel), or local radio station.
• If you are a person with special needs, register your name and address with your local emergency management agency, police and fire departments before any natural or man-made disaster.
• NOAA Weather Radio has available an alerting tool for people who are deaf or have hearing impairments. Some weather radio receivers can be connected to an existing home security system, much the same as a doorbell, smoke detector or other sensor. For additional information, click here.
• The safest place to be during a tornado is a basement. If the building has no basement or cellar, go to a small room (a bathroom or closet) on the lowest level of the structure, away from windows and as close to the center of the building as possible.
• Be aware of emergency shelter plans in stores, offices and schools. If no specific shelter has been identified, move to the building’s lowest level. Try to avoid areas with large glass windows, large rooms and wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways or shopping malls.
• If you’re outside or in a mobile home, find shelter immediately by going to the lowest level of a nearby sturdy building. Sturdy buildings are the safest structures to be in when tornadoes threaten. Winds from tornadoes can blow large objects, including cars and mobile homes, hundreds of feet away.
• If you cannot quickly get to a shelter, get into your vehicle, buckle your seatbelt and try to drive to the nearest sturdy shelter.
• If you experience flying debris while driving, pull over and park. Choose to either stay in your vehicle, stay buckled up, duck down below the windows and cover your head with your hands, or find a depression or ditch, exit your vehicle and use your arms and hands to protect your head. Never seek shelter under highway overpasses and bridges.