CHENANGO COUNTY– Because it is National Flood Safety Awareness Week, Chenango County's Department of Emergency Management is encouraging residents to be aware of flood safety guidelines in case of any future flooding.

Chenango County has seen its fair share of floods in the past 10 years including the floods of 2006, 2011 and 2013, which is why Director of Emergency Management, Matt Beckwith, said it is important for locals to be vigilant when it comes to flooding.

“As seen over the last several years, our area is very conducive to flooding,” said Beckwith.

Beckwith said thousands of deaths per year are contributed to the dangers associated with flooding, which he said people need to be aware of. He said while the water may not appear to be moving fast, the subsurface water current is much faster than it appears and debris flowing in the water is extremely dangerous as well.

“People and automobiles can be swept away into swift moving water very easily. The term 'Turn Around Don’t Drown,' otherwise known as 'TADD' is a NOAA National Weather Service campaign to warn people of the hazards of walking or driving through flood waters,” said Beckwith.

The Director of Emergency Management also said if people encounter floodwater flowing across roadways or sidewalks, they should simply turn around and choose another route.