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Flooding is consistently one of the deadliest hazards in a storm, and a large share of those deaths happen in vehicles. The water is almost always shallower and slower than it looks, and the road underneath is almost never intact.
The numbers people underestimate
- Six inches of moving water can knock an adult off their feet.
- Twelve inches of moving water can float or sweep away many cars.
- Two feet of moving water can carry away most vehicles, including larger ones.
Why it is worse than it looks
- You cannot see the roadbed. It may be washed out, collapsed, or gone entirely.
- Floodwater hides debris, nails, glass, downed power lines and live electrical current.
- Water is frequently contaminated with sewage and fuel.
- The current in a flooded intersection is often stronger than in open road.
The rule
Turn around, don't drown. If you cannot see the road surface, or water is moving, do not enter. There is no destination worth it, and backing up costs ten seconds.
If your vehicle is trapped in rising water: get out and get to higher ground if you can do so safely. If you cannot, call for help and stay with the vehicle rather than entering moving water.
General safety information from National Weather Service guidance.
Where this came from
This article summarises published guidance from NOAA National Weather Service. Read the original at the source — it is more current than any summary, including this one.
Related
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General information, not advice. This is a summary of published guidance for Florida residents. It is not legal, insurance, medical or construction advice, and it is not a substitute for instructions from your county emergency management office, an emergency responder, your insurer or a qualified professional. Storm conditions, laws and programmes change — confirm anything you intend to rely on with the official source above.
Spot an error? Tell us — we correct promptly.
· All storm knowledge
