Reporting flooding through the cops

I'm a little nonplussed by this instruction in the National Weather Service's flood warning:

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN UPTON NY.

Now, aren't the police unusually busy during flood times? We don't hit looting right away, but the previous paragraph

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

Suggests that they have stuff to do. We're already reading the report on the internet! Shouldn't we be able to report flooding directly? Having to report through the police just invites delay and error.