Flood Safety Week March 6th-10th.
3/7/2023
KDA-DWR coordinates with the Kansas Department of Emergency Management (KDEM) as well as the National Weather Service (NWS) and governor’s office to pass a proclamation signed by the governor to recognize flood safety week in the month of March each year. It is a collaborative effort to raise awareness during the start of flood season. The week deliberately coincides with the NWS Severe Weather Awareness week, which includes the threat of other hazards in addition to flooding.
Governor Laura Kelly has signed the proclamation declaring the week of March 6th-10th, 2023 to be Flood Safety Awareness Week. This observation underlines the critical need for understanding flooding and the importance of flood safety in Kansas. The threat to lives and property is imminent as we approach the spring and summer seasons. Please find attached to this message, the signed proclamation.
It is important to remember that floods kill more people in the United States each year than any other thunderstorm-related hazards, with the majority of those being people driving into flooded roads. Flood Safety Awareness Week is an effort on behalf of KDA-DWR and KDEM to emphasize awareness of preparing for and understanding flooding in Kansas and encourage citizens to prepare homes, businesses, and communities for the flood season. Flooding, as per the Kansas Hazard Mitigation Plan, is one of the costliest types of natural disasters in Kansas, and all areas of the state are at varying degrees of risk. Floods can happen at any time, without warning, and damage is not covered by the standard homeowner’s policy.