Whether you believe in climate change or not, you can’t deny that life on Earth has faced increasingly frequent and intense weather anomalies in recent years. More people across the United States and the world have been subjected to unprecedented levels of rain, and more frequent and powerful storms causing flooding, mud slides, and dangerous conditions.
In fact, floods are the most common weather-related natural disaster in every state in the country, so whether you live in drier-than-a-popcorn-fart Nevada or wet-and-wild Florida, this information is important. If your region is experiencing flooding, how can you safely get to where you need to go? Here are three tips for staying safe while navigating flooded areas.
Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
Do not enter flooded streets, even if you’re in a big SUV that makes you feel unstoppable, and especially if you’re in a low road car. The Los Angeles Times reports,
As little as 6 inches of water can cause cars to stall or knock an adult off their feet. Two feet of water can sweep a car off the road, including an SUV or pickup truck. Any amount of water means you won’t be able to see what condition the road is in. Heed all road closure notifications and instructions from emergency responders.
As this video shows, even areas that don’t look severely flooded can hide dangerous conditions. The woman driving this Nissan Versa accidentally drove directly into a swollen creek. The roadway she was driving on didn’t look immediately treacherous, and honestly I wouldn’t have known there was a river running through the area, which goes to show that you never know what’s hiding underneath murky flood waters. It’s not worth risking your life to drive through a flood.
Heed Warning Signs
If you are driving in a region that’s experiencing flooding, you may come across signs that warn about possible flooding ahead. Some signs may tell you that the road ahead is flooded, in which case it’s best to turn around and find an alternate route. Even if you’re driving a lifted truck, it’s best to simply turn around and find an alternate route. Even if someone’s filming you or encouraging you to drive through the flooded area, turn around. You don’t want your fragile ego to be the thing that gets you into a potentially life threatening situation.
If Your Car Stalls In A Flood, Get Out Of It.
Cars and deep water don’t mix well. If your car stalls in a flood due to deep waters, get out of the car immediately and seek higher ground. Forget about your car; your car is replaceable, your life is not. If you are stranded on top of your vehicle or on top of a structure, stay where you are and wait for help. Do not get into the water, as floods often cause strong currents that will knock you down, and as the TikTok shows, you never know what’s lurking beneath the murky waters of a flood. You might be stepping into a deep river instead of a few inches of muddy water.