Wichita ? In response to a flash flood that killed six people last Labor Day weekend on the Kansas Turnpike, the National Weather Service in Wichita has sought to increase dispatchers’ and weather spotters’ awareness of high water.

The Wichita branch sent three-ring binders with information about flooding to dispatchers in the 26 counties in its warning area. The books explain to dispatchers what they should tell motorists who have become stranded in high water, when to call the bureau and what to report.

Besides sending out the binders, the weather service is giving greater emphasis to flood safety in this year’s spotter classes. The training sessions in south-central Kansas begin later this week and will continue into April.

The Aug. 30 flood occurred as heavy rain fell along the turnpike, sending as much as 4 feet of water over the four-lane road. The raging water claimed the lives of a mother and four children from Glenaire, Mo., and a Fort Worth, Texas, man who was trying to save them.

Chance Hayes, warning coordination meteorologist for the Wichita branch of the National Weather Service, cited a lack of communication as one of the main problems.

“Two phone calls could have saved everyone’s lives,” Hayes said.

Weather service meteorologists should have monitored conditions more closely that night, he said, and dispatchers should have contacted the weather service once flooding had been reported. Also, Hayes said, the tragedy would have been avoided had everyone caught in the rising water followed proper flash flood safety measures and left their vehicles for higher ground.

Hayes said many people think they can drive through water that is standing or flowing over a road, only to be swept away.

“It only takes 6 inches of water to knock you off your feet,” Hayes said.