For immediate release: February 2, 2009

Media Contact:    Stephanie Kaleva

With a goal of educating about floods’ role, as well as flood preparedness and flood management, Project WET publications address a critical global topic.

Bozeman, Mont, 02 Feb., 2009 – Both entitled Discover Floods, a new Educators Guide and companion Kids in Discovery series (KIDs) Activity Booklet, will be released at the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul, Turkey (March 16 to 22, 2009).

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of U.S.Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), and developed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Project WET, Discover Floods grew out of discussions at the 2006 forum in Mexico City.

Following the 2004 Tsunami that devastated coastal communities in Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand and the following year, Hurricane Katrina in the U.S., 2006 World Water Forum leaders struggled with balancing the need to benefit from floodplains with protecting people living in flood-prone areas and preserving the environment.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, “The way we deal with floods determines whether water remains a life-providing element or becomes a destructive force against human life and economic development.”

Using Project WET’s proven methodology of presenting information through diverse, hands-on and interactive methods, these materials educate teachers, students, families and communities worldwide about risk assessment, flood management, preparedness and planning.

According to Vice President of Publications Sandra DeYonge, “Although we cannot control extreme weather events, through education we can reduce our vulnerability by assessing our risk, whether at home or traveling, and preparing a plan.”

“Through ActionEducation™, we can prepare not only our families, but also our communities,” she said. “As we seek to improve the quality of life for all people, through flood awareness education, risk assessment, management and planning, we can benefit from floodplains and help keep communities safe.”

Both Discover Floods Educators Guide and Discover Floods KIDs activity booklet can be purchased from the Project WET store in April 2009 or obtained from Project WET at the 5th World Water Forum.

About Project WET

Since 1984, Project WET, an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education.  Project WET achieves its mission of worldwide water education by:

• publishing water resource materials in several languages.
  
• providing training workshops on diverse water topics (i.e., watersheds, water quality, water conservation).
  
• organizing community water events, such as Make a Splash with Project WET water festivals and the Global Water Education Village™.
  
• building a worldwide network of educators, water resource professionals and scientists.

On the web at www.projectwet.org.