Floods
Floods take place when streams and rivers overflow their banks, dams or levees give way, massive amounts of snow melts, or excessive rain falls over a long period of time. Flash floods can happen without warning and can occur in minutes. Be on the lookout for them during storm seasons or the annual point when flooding is expected. Here are some suggestions for driving during a flood:
- Do not even get into a car unless you have no choice.
- Do not drive through flooded streets. If you come upon one, find an alternate route to get where you’re going. If there is no immediate alternative, travel to a higher altitude until waters calm down or retreat.
- Even if you think you can easily cross a flooded roadway, do not try it. There may be dips in the road, or worse, portions of the road may have been washed away that are concealed by the floodwater.
- If your engine dies, abandon your vehicle and travel to higher ground.
- A mere six inches of water should clear the bottom of standard cars. This may trigger loss of control or a stall out.
- A full foot of water may lift a vehicle completely off the ground.
- Two feet of surging water has enough power to carry away heavy vehicles such as pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles.