The NASCAR Cup Series continues this afternoon, as racers compete in the NASCAR All-Star Race. The event will begin at 7 p.m. CT on FS1. Fans can watch this race for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
The NASCAR All-Star Race features a $1 million prize pool for the winner, so tonight’s event should be highly competitive.
Kyle Larson will be a key racer to watch tonight, as he currently sits atop the NASCAR Cup Series standings. He has 469 points this season with nine top 10 finishes, which leads the competition.
Larson secured his third victory of the season last week, so he will look to continue his success this evening.
William Byron will be another key racer to watch tonight, as he currently sits in second place. He has accrued 434 points this season, and he has seven top 10 finishes.
Byron ended last race in 24th place, so he will try to improve his performance this evening.
Fans can watch the NASCAR All-Star Race for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
FILE – A letter from acting archivist of the United States Debra Steidel Wall to former President Donald Trump’s legal team is photographed, Aug. 23, 2022. The letter details that the National Archives recovered 100 documents bearing classified markings, totaling more than 700 pages, from an initial batch of 15 boxes retrieved from Mar-a-Lago earlier in 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick, File)AP
WASHINGTON (AP) — For generations, official American documents have been meticulously preserved and protected, from the era of quills and parchment to boxes of paper to the cloud, safeguarding snapshots of the government and the nation for posterity.
Now, the Trump administration is scrubbing thousands of government websites of history, legal records and data it finds disagreeable.
It has sought to expand the executive branch’s power to shield from public view the government-slashing efforts of Elon Musk’s team and other key administration initiatives. Officials have used apps such as Signal that can auto-delete messages containing sensitive information rather than retaining them for recordkeeping. And they have shaken up the National Archives leadership and even ordered the rewriting of history on display at the Smithsonian Institution.
All of that follows President Donald Trump discouraging note-taking at meetings, ripping up records when he was done with them, refusing to release White House visitor logs and having staffers sign nondisclosure agreements during his first term — then being indicted for hauling to Florida boxes of sensitive documents that he was legally required to relinquish.
To historians and archivists, it points to the possibility that Trump’s presidency will leave less for the nation’s historical record than nearly any before it and that what is authorized for public release will be sanitized and edited to reinforce a carefully sculpted image the president wants projected, even if the facts don’t back that up.
How will experts and their fellow Americans understand what went on during Trump’s term when those charged with setting aside the artifacts documenting history refuse to do so?
How to piece together a history of truth and accuracy?
The administration says it’s the “most transparent in history,” citing the Republican president’s penchant for taking questions from reporters nearly every day.
But flooding the airwaves, media outlets and the internet with all things Trump isn’t the same as keeping records that document the inner workings of an administration, historians caution. That’s especially true given the president’s propensity for exaggerating, particularly when it comes to bolstering his own image and accomplishments.
“He thinks he controls history,” says Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian who served as founding director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California. “He wants to control what Americans ultimately find out about the truth of his administration, and that’s dangerous. Because, if he believes that he can control that truth, he may believe that there is nothing that he can do that would have consequences.”
Watchdog groups are most immediately worried about what the administration is doing in real time with little oversight or accountability. They point to Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and other top officials seeking to obscure sweeping efforts to remake government, the economy and large swaths of the nation’s civil and cultural fabric.
“With this administration’s history of tearing up records, storing them in unsecured facilities in Florida, its use of Signal,” said Scott Amey, general counsel of the Project on Government Oversight, which has sued DOGE seeking greater access to records. “At that point, there are a lot of questions about how’s DOGE operating, and is it operating within the law?”
Trump has made concealing even basic facts part of his political persona.
He long refused to release his tax returns despite every other major White House candidate and president having done so since Jimmy Carter. Today, White House stenographers still record every word Trump utters, but many of their transcriptions are languishing in the White House press office without authorization for public release. That means no official record — for weeks, if at all — of what the president has said.
“You want to have a record because that’s how you ensure accountability,” said Lindsay Chervinsky, executive director of the George Washington Presidential Library in Mount Vernon, Virginia. “You can’t hold people accountable if you don’t actually know what happened.”
The law says Trump must maintain records
Presidents are legally obligated to keep up the historical record. After the Watergate scandal forced Nixon to resign in 1974, he tried to take documents home to California. Congress approved a law requiring document preservation that applied only to Nixon.
Four years later, the Presidential Records Act extended similar rules to all commanders in chief. It mandates the preservation, forever, of White House and vice presidential documents and communications. It deems them the property of the U.S. government and directs the National Archives and Records Administration to administer them after a president’s term.
A separate measure, the Federal Records Act of 1950, is meant to safeguard for the historical record the actions of other officials. It says their communications should be preserved, sent to the National Archives, whose headquarters is down the street from the White House, and are generally subject to requests for information under Freedom of Information Act.
The Presidential Records Act affords presidents the exclusive responsibility for the custody and management of their records while in office, and says the National Archives plays no role except when a president wants to dispose of such materials.
Further, it protects some presidential records from Freedom of Information requests for five years after a president leaves office, and can even block release of some records for up to a dozen years after a president’s term is up. Presidents also can evoke executive privilege to further limit certain types of communication from release.
Once an administration is over, however, there are rules about what even the president must retain for the public. The Presidential Records Act also prohibits presidents from taking records home.
That’s best evidenced by Trump’s 2022 federal indictment for mishandling classified documents. Rather than turn them over the National Archives, Trump hauled boxes of potentially sensitive documents from his first term to his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, where they ended piled up in his bedroom, a ballroom and even a bathroom and shower. The FBI raided the property to recover them. The case was later thrown out, though, and then abandoned altogether after Trump won back the White House last November.
Trudy Huskamp Peterson, acting Archivist of the United States from 1993 to 1995, said keeping such records for the public is important because “decision-making always involves conflicting views, and it’s really important to get that internal documentation to see what the arguments were.”
Early presidents often sought to preserve their place in history
The push toward preservation of the historical record predates Nixon and even the United States itself.
American colonists decried the secrecy around the British Parliament, leading early leaders to install transparency safeguards, including initially rejecting the notion of a presidential Cabinet at the Constitutional Convention. Instead, they endorsed requirements that the president receive advice in writing from department secretaries, so that there would be a written record, said Chervinsky, also author of “The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution.”
In 1796, Washington asserted what today might be called executive privilege, arguing that some diplomatic conversations had to be private given their sensitive nature. But the following year, the nation’s first president wrote about the need to build a library to house his papers for historians and researchers, Chervinsky said.
Many early presidents kept meticulous records, including John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both of whom wanted to “be seen as a positive figure in history,” Chervinsky said. Others, like Abraham Lincoln, had advisers who understood the importance of the era and documented history carefully.
Other presidents often did not prioritize recordkeeping.
Ulysses S. Grant, who left office in 1877, famously wrote, “The only place I ever found in my life to put a paper so as to find it again was either a side coat-pocket, or the hands of a clerk more careful than myself.” And it wasn’t until 2014 when the Library of Congress, finally clear of legal battles that raged 50 years earlier with Warren G. Harding’s family, released correspondence between the 29th president and his mistress, Carrie Fulton Phillips.
Federally authorized presidential libraries did not exist until 1941, when Franklin D. Roosevelt opened his while still in office, although a mostly privately funded library established for Rutherford B. Hayes, who left the presidency in 1881, served as a model. Roosevelt also installed a White House tape recorder to capture conversations, a practice that mostly continued until Nixon’s Oval Office tapes upended his presidency.
After President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, many of his presidential recordings were taken by his family and National Archives officials had to negotiate with Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., for public access, Peterson said. President Lyndon B. Johnson recorded phone calls that have informed historians for decades, including his 1964 lament about the Vietnam War: “It just worries the hell out of me.”
Naftali said that in his role at the Nixon library, he saw drafts materials — and the notes used to compile them — that survived among presidential papers, even when the finished documents were shredded in Watergate cover-up efforts.
“You should want accountability whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat or an independent,” Naftali said. “You want to know what people did in your name.”
Presidential clashes with archivists predate Trump
Even after new laws saw Nixon’s White House tapes turned over to authorities, it fell to archivists to separate official and political material from the personal, which was potentially subject to more privacy protections. They also had to deal with voice-activated devices clicking on while Oval Office cleaning crews worked.
More recently, President George H.W. Bush’s administration destroyed some informal notes, visitor logs and emails. After President Bill Clinton left office, his former national security adviser, Sandy Berger, pleaded guilty to taking copies of a document about terrorist threats from the National Archives by stuffing them down his pants leg.
President George W. Bush’s administration disabled automatic archiving for some official emails, encouraged some staffers to use private email accounts outside their work addresses and lost 22 million emails that were supposed to have been archived, though they were eventually uncovered in 2009.
The younger Bush also signed an executive order seeking to limit the scope of the Presidential Records Act for himself and past presidents. His successor, President Barack Obama, rescinded that. Obama’s administration nonetheless moved to block release of White House visitor logs, something Trump continued in his first term.
Congress updated the Presidential Records Act and the Federal Records Act in 2014 to encompass electronic messaging, including commercial email services known to be used by government employees to conduct official business. But back then, use of auto-delete apps like Signal was far less common.
“A decade ago, we were still in a Gmail, Yahoo, and AOL world,” said Jason R. Baron, a professor at the University of Maryland and former director of litigation at the National Archives. “The point is, it’s far easier to copy — or forward — a commercial email to a dot-gov address to be preserved, than it is to screenshot a series of messages on an app like Signal.”
Further complicating matters is Trump’s routinely answering cellphone calls, including from reporters. Guidance dating back decades suggests documenting, through ordinary note-taking, the substance of conversations where significant decisions are made, Baron said.
But he also noted that the rules are less clear than those around written communications, including texts. Such communications have already been at the center of advocates’ work to preserve records around DOGE’s work.
The administration has argued DOGE’s efforts are subject to the Presidential Records Act which would potentially shield it from Freedom of Information Act rules. Amey’s Project on Government Oversight sued, maintaining that Musk’s initiative should be covered by the Federal Records Act.
Other advocacy groups have also sued DOGE over compliance with Freedom of Information Act requests, prompting the administration to file a one-page record retention policy in March that was revealed in court filings. It requires DOGE staffers to preserve all work-related communications and records, regardless of format — which, if applied completely across the board, would include apps like Signal.
Relying on ‘an honor system’
There were efforts during the first Trump administration to safeguard transparency, including a memo issued through the Office of White House counsel Don McGahn in February 2017 that reminded White House personnel of the necessity to preserve and maintain presidential records.
Trump’s 2017-2021 administration also established a system to capture messages the president posted to Twitter even after he deleted them.
When Trump frequently ripped up briefing papers and other documents when he was finished with them during his first term, record analysts working across the street from the White House later would gather them up and tape them back together as best they could.
Experts and advocates say no such guidance memo has been issued from the White House this time, though William Fischer, the National Archives acting chief records officer, released a memo this month reminding agencies about rules for maintaining federal records created on apps such as Signal and recommending using “automated tools to comply” with the Federal Records Act.
Trump has recently talked about his place in history, and officials around the president have discussed building a presidential library — potentially in Florida — when he leaves the White House for good. But Trump also long exaggerated his right to keep documents for personal use rather than turn them over to archivists.
“Under the Presidential Records Act, I’m allowed to do all this,” Trump wrote on his social media site in June 2023 after the FBI seized boxes of documents from Mar-a-Lago — an assertion the indictment against him disputed.
The White House says Trump was “unjustly prosecuted” on “fake charges” during that case. It points to having recently ordered the declassification of bevies of historical files, including records related to the assassinations of Kennedy, his brother Robert and Martin Luther King.
The administration says it fulfilled records requests from Congress that the administration of his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, ignored, and offered instructions that federal agencies should clear out backlogged Freedom of Information Act requests.
It says it ended the Biden-era practice of staffers using Microsoft Teams, where chats were not captured by White House systems. The Biden administration had more than 800 users on Teams, meaning an unknown number of presidential records might have been lost, Trump officials now say, though that is something Biden representatives did not confirm.
But the White House did not answer questions about the possibly of drafting a new memo on record retention like McGahn’s from 2017. Nor did it comment about whether nondisclosure agreements remain in use for White House staffers this term, or speak to Trump’s past habit of tearing up documents.
Chervinsky, of the George Washington Presidential Library, said Congress, the courts and even the public often don’t have the bandwidth to ensure records retention laws are enforced, meaning, “A lot of it is still, I think, an honor system.”
“There aren’t that many people who are practicing oversight,” she said. “So, a lot of it does require people acting in good faith and using the operating systems that they’re supposed to use, and using the filing systems they’re supposed to use.”
Angered by the role the National Archives played in his documents case, meanwhile, Trump fired the ostensibly independent agency’s head, Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan, and named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as her acting replacement.
Peterson, the former acting national archivist, said she still believes key information about the Trump administration will eventually emerge, but “I don’t know how soon.”
“Ultimately things come out,” she said. “That’s just the way the world works.”
Will Weissert covers the White House for The Associated Press.
A juvenile died after a two-vehicle car crash in Decatur on Saturday night, police said.
Decatur police officers and fire and rescue personnel were dispatched on Saturday night at 9:02 p.m. to the intersection of Beltline Road SW and Westmead Street SW. When officers arrived, one of the vehicles was fully engulfed in flames, and the juvenile inside the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.
Decatur police then took one person involved in the crash into custody for driving under the influence, the department said in a statement. The police department’s traffic unit is actively investigating the crash.
No one involved in the crash has been identified at this time, and the police department has yet to release further details.
A recent physical exam revealed a small nodule in former President Joe Biden’s prostate, ABC News has confirmed.
“In a routine physical exam a small nodule was found in the prostate which necessitated further evaluation,” a spokesperson told ABC News.
The spokesperson did not indicate if the evaluation was immediate or ongoing. No other information was released on the health of the 82-year-old former president.
In February 2023, while in office, Biden had cancerous lesions removed from his chest, the report indicated. Before taking office, he had several non-melanoma skin cancers removed. A year later, President Biden, then the presumptive Democratic nominee, was deemed “fit to serve” during a physical exam. Biden later exited the race to make way for eventual Democratic nominee Kamala Harris who lost to Donald Trump in the November 2024 election.
According to Medical News Today, a prostate nodule is a raised and hard area that feels like a knuckle on a finger that develops on the gland. Nodules can be, not are not necessarily, cancerous. Prostate cancer is not uncommon in the U.S., with one in 9 men receiving a diagnosis during their lifetime. The average age of diagnosis occurs at 66 years old and 60% of cases occur after age 65.
Biden left office on Jan. 20, 2025 as the oldest sitting president. He will turn 83 on Nov. 20, 2025.
The No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder play against the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in game 7 of their NBA Playoff series today. The matchup will begin at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
The winner of this game will advance to the Western Conference Finals, where they will face off against the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves.
In the last game, Denver was able to keep their season alive with a 119-107 win. During the victory, three Denver players scored at least 23 points: Christian Braun, Jamal Murray, and Nikola Jokic.
Notably, Jokic scored a team-high 29 points last game.
In order to win game 7 this afternoon, the Thunder will need to rely on their star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He scored a game-high 32 points last game, and he shot 11-16 from the field.
Gilgeous-Alexander is currently shooting less than 26% from three-point range in the postseason, so he will look to improve his efficiency today.
Fans can watch game 7 of this NBA Playoff series for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
A report was issued from the National Weather Service on Sunday at 8:53 a.m. for strong thunderstorms until 10:15 a.m. for Macon, Lee and Russell counties.
Wind gusts of up to 40 mph and marble-sized hail (0.5 inches) are predicted.
“At 8:53 a.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm near Uchee, or 8 miles north of Hurtsboro, moving east at 30 mph,” says the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”
Locations impacted by the alert include Warriorstand, Russell County Sports Complex, Uchee, Seale, Creek Stand, Hatchechubbe, Uchee Creek, Society Hill, Fort Mitchell, Marvyn, Fort Mitchell Activity Center, Phenix Drag Strip and Parkmanville.
The weather service comments, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.”
Staying safe as lightning approaches: Expert advice
Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, with the bulk of these electrical discharges occurring during the summer months. Tragically, lightning claims the lives of about 20 individuals annually, as reported by the weather service. The risk of lightning-related incidents escalates as thunderstorms draw near, reaching its peak when the storm directly looms overhead. However, it gradually recedes as the tempest moves away.
To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, consider the following recommendations:
Lightning safety plan:
When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.
Indoors safety measures:
Once you’ve found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.
Lightning can follow conductive pathways, and these precautions reduce the risk of electrical surges.
Wait for the all-clear:
After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly passed, so exercise caution.
When indoor shelter isn’t available:
If you find yourself outdoors without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:
Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.
Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
If you’re with a group, ensure individuals are spread out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It’s crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.
Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.
In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety.
Navigating heavy rain: Essential safety measures for wet roads
Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding if prolonged or if there is excessive runoff. Excessive runoff can be a result of saturated ground and/or rainfall intensity. Follow these recommendations from the weather service to stay safe in heavy rain:
Beware of swollen waterways:
Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away.
Maintain safe driving distances:
Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.
Reduce speed and drive cautiously:
On wet roads, reducing your speed is crucial. Ease off the gas pedal gradually and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.
Choose your lane wisely:
Stick to the middle lanes to minimize the risk of hydroplaning. Outer lanes are more prone to accumulating water.
Prioritize visibility
Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.
Watch out for slippery roads:
Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.
Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:
Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely.
Mind your windshield wipers:
Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or sheltered spots.
When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.
By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
The second day of the Sand in My Boots festival gave two Alabama country stars their chance for a turn in the sun, following up on their recent success at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
As at the ACM ceremony, to watch Hope Hull native Ella Langley was to see someone experiencing her dreams coming true in real time. A couple of songs into her 4:20 p.m. set on the festival’s main stage, she took a moment to describe the feeling.
“I’m from Alabama, so I’m going to say it feels damn good to be home tonight,” she said, after thanking fans for showing up. “I’ve been to the Flora-Bama, I’ve been all over this place. This is [where] we went on vacation, as a kid. I mean, I’ve been to festivals. Kendrick Lamar once played right here and I was standing way, way over there. And here we are. Standing on this stage. So, wow.”
Ella Langley wields a tambourine during her set at the Sand in My Boots festival.Lawrence Specker | [email protected]
(Lamar played the Hangout Music Fest in 2013 and 2018; whichever one Langley meant, she’d have been a teen at the time.)
She came back to the theme after a run of songs that included her own “Nicotine” and “Girl You’re Taking Home” and a cover of Gretchen Wilson’s “Here for the Party.” For anyone wondering why the ACM’s most-nominated artist of the year was playing mid-afternoon, she provided some insight about how fast her star has risen since she was booked.
“My whole family’s here tonight,” she said. “My brothers and sisters, my mom and my dad, I’m pretty sure my dad was in the Gulf of Mexico within five minutes of his being here.
“Man, this has been a crazy last year of my life,” she said. “I played the biggest headlining show I’ve ever played, this last week. It was for 4,000 people, and for me that’s a lot. I mean, I sold zero tickets for a lot of my life, so 4,000 was a crazy amount. And today playing, I’m just looking out and remembering myself standing there and there and way back there, literally so far in back that I could just barely see the screen. So, thank you so much for being here. I know it’s hot, but thank you so much for standing out here and being with me, Sand in My Boots.”
The next main-stage artist was Chase Rice, who was then followed right around sunset by Jacksonville, Ala., native Riley Green.
Given that a certain smash hit had been conspicuously absent from Langley’s set list, expectations were high that she’d return during Green’s. And she did: He brought her out for “Don’t Mind If I Do,” a duet from his 2024 album of the same name, and a bit later she returned for “You Look Like You Love Me,” the breakout hit from her 2024 album “Hungover.”
Green might not have been as open with the personal emotional revelations as Langley, but he compensated by bringing out Randy Houser for a double-shot tribute to Toby Keith, with covers of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American).”
Riley Green performs during the Sand in My Boots festival in Gulf Shores.Lawrence Specker | [email protected]
And he paused his “Hell of a Way to Go” for a lesson on SEC etiquette. The song refers to “watchin’ Alabama whoop up on Tennessee,” but Green had to clarify something about that. “I gotta tell y’all the truth,” he said. “I’m not an Alabama fan, I’m an Auburn fan, okay?”
This got, predictably, a mixed response.
“I know we’ve got a mixture of folks here that have come from all over the place,” Green explained, “and what y’all need to understand is, you don’t have to be an Alabama fan or an Auburn fan. You just have to not be a Tennessee fan.” To mass agreement, he resumed the song.
Country veterans Brooks & Dunn headlined the evening. Sunday’s lineup includes includes Wiz Khalifa, Future Islands, Ernest and the War on Drugs. Morgan Wallen, who curated the lineup and other aspects of the fest, will deliver the closing performance.
A flood warning was released by the National Weather Service on Sunday at 8:37 a.m. in effect until further notice for Clarke and Washington counties.
The weather service says, “Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast for Tombigbee River near Leroy.”
“At 24.0 feet, flooding of low-lying farm and pasturelands begins. Cattle in low-lying areas should be moved to higher ground. Water approaches low-lying roads on west side of river,” explains the weather service. “Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. The next statement will be issued when updates occur.”
Deciphering advisories, watches, and warnings: Understanding weather alerts
Flash flood warning: Take action!
A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. If you are in a flood-prone area, move immediately to high ground. A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain.
Flood warning: Take action!
A flood warning is declared when flooding is on the verge of happening or is already underway.
Flood advisory: Be aware:
A flood advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning. However, it may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.
Flood watch: Be prepared:
A flood watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It doesn’t guarantee that flooding will occur, but it signifies that the possibility exists.
When floods strike: Guidelines from the weather service for your protection
Floods can pose a significant threat, especially if you live in a flood-prone area or find yourself camping in a low-lying region. To ensure your safety, the weather service offers essential flood safety guidelines:
Seek higher ground:
If you’re in a flood-prone area, or if you’re camping in a low-lying spot, move to higher ground as a first step.
Adhere to evacuation orders:
If local authorities issue an evacuation order, heed it promptly. Prior to leaving, secure your home by locking it.
Disconnect utilities and appliances:
If time allows, disconnect your utilities and appliances. This reduces the risk of electrical hazards during flooding.
Steer clear of flooded basements and submerged areas:
Avoid basements or rooms submerged in water with electrical outlets or cords. Preventing electrical accidents is crucial.
Evacuate promptly for safety:
If you notice sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping, or popping noises, evacuate immediately. Avoid any water that may be charged with electricity.
Refrain from walking in floodwaters:
Never attempt to walk through floodwaters. Even just 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
Seek higher ground when trapped:
Should you become trapped by moving water, reach the highest point possible and dial 911 to contact emergency services.
During heavy rainfall, there is a risk of flooding, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Remember to never drive through water on the road, even if it seems shallow. According to the weather service, as little as 12 inches of rapidly flowing water can carry away most cars. Prioritize your safety by staying informed and prepared.
Navigating rainy roads: Safety tips for wet weather
When heavy rain sets in, the risk of flooding and hazardous driving conditions rises. Whether it’s prolonged rainfall or rapid runoff, being prepared is essential. Here are some valuable safety tips from the weather service to ensure you stay safe in heavy rain:
Beware of swollen waterways:
In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.
Maintain safe driving distances:
Adhere to the two-second rule for maintaining a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness.
Slow down and stay cautious:
If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.
Choose your lane wisely:
Stick to the middle lanes to minimize the risk of hydroplaning. Outer lanes are more prone to accumulating water.
Visibility matters:
Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.
Watch out for slippery roads:
Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.
Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:
Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely.
Mind your windshield wipers:
Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or sheltered spots.
If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.
In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
On Sunday at 8:36 a.m. a flood warning was released by the National Weather Service in effect until further notice for Choctaw, Clarke and Washington counties.
The weather service says, “Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast for Tombigbee River near Coffeeville Dam.”
“At 29.0 feet, pastureland becomes flooded. Livestock should be moved to higher ground. Old Ferry Road near the river begins to flood,” comments the weather service. “Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. The next statement will be issued when updates occur.”
Breaking down weather alerts: advisories, watches, and warnings
Flash flood warning: Take action!
A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is either imminent or already occurring. In flood-prone areas, it’s crucial to move immediately to higher ground. A flash flood is a sudden and violent inundation that can develop within minutes to hours, and it can even happen in areas not currently experiencing rainfall.
Flood warning: Take action!
A flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.
Flood advisory: Be aware:
A flood advisory is released when flooding is not expected to reach a severity level necessitating a warning. Nonetheless, it can still cause considerable inconvenience and, without exercising caution, potentially lead to situations that threaten life and/or property.
Flood watch: Be prepared:
A flood watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It doesn’t guarantee that flooding will occur, but it signifies that the possibility exists.
Staying safe during a flood: Recommendations from the weather service
Floods can pose a significant threat, especially if you live in a flood-prone area or find yourself camping in a low-lying region. To ensure your safety, the weather service offers essential flood safety guidelines:
Seek higher ground:
If you’re in a flood-prone area, or if you’re camping in a low-lying spot, move to higher ground as a first step.
Follow evacuation orders:
When local authorities issue an evacuation order, promptly comply. Before leaving, secure your home by locking it.
Disconnect utilities and appliances:
If time permits, disconnect your utilities and appliances. This precaution minimizes electrical hazards during flooding.
Avoid basements and submerged areas:
Steer clear of basements or rooms where water has submerged electrical outlets or cords. This helps prevent electrical accidents.
Evacuate promptly for safety:
If you notice sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping, or popping noises, evacuate immediately. Avoid any water that may be charged with electricity.
Stay away from floodwaters:
Never attempt to walk through floodwaters. Even just 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
Seek high ground if trapped:
Should you become trapped by moving water, reach the highest point possible and dial 911 to contact emergency services.
During periods of heavy rainfall, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas, the risk of flooding escalates. Remember this crucial advice: never attempt to drive through water on the road, even if it appears shallow. According to the weather service, as little as 12 inches of rapidly flowing water can carry away most vehicles. Stay safe by being prepared and informed.
Driving through downpours: Safety guidelines for wet roads
When heavy rain sets in, the risk of flooding and hazardous driving conditions rises. Whether it’s prolonged rainfall or rapid runoff, being prepared is essential. Here are some valuable safety tips from the weather service to ensure you stay safe in heavy rain:
Beware of rapid water flow:
In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.
Maintain safe driving distances:
Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.
Slow down and stay cautious:
If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.
Choose your lane wisely:
Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in the outside lanes.
Visibility matters:
Turn on your headlights and be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.
Watch out for slippery roads:
Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.
Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:
Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.
Mind your windshield wipers:
Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas.
If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.
In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
