Floods can occur anywhere, with floodwaters rising gradually, flash
floods striking suddenly or due to heavy rain fall. Flash floods are the number
one weather-related killer in the United States — most flood fatalities happen
because people try to drive through deadly waters rather than avoid them.
(Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2005)
Water's powerful force can easily overtake vehicles caught in a
flood. Follow these tips to stay safe in your car during a flood.
Pay
attention to barricades.
- Don't ignore them by driving past them.
If no alternate route exists and you have no other reasonable
alternative but to drive through standing water:
- Do your best to
estimate the depth of the water (if other cars are driving through, take
note of how deep the water is).
- Drive slowly and
steadily through the water.
- Avoid driving in
water that downed electrical or power lines have fallen in — electric
current easily passes through water.
- Watch for items
traveling downstream — they can trap or crush you if you're in their path.
- If you have
driven through water up to the wheel rims or higher, test your brakes on a
clear patch of road at low speed. If they are wet and not stopping the
vehicle as they should, dry them by pressing gently on the brake pedal
with your left foot while maintaining speed with your right foot.
- Stay off the
telephone unless you must report severe injuries.
- If your vehicle
stalls in the deep water, you may need to restart the engine to make it to
safety. Keep in mind that restarting may cause irreparable damage to the
engine.
- If you can't
restart your vehicle and you become trapped in rising water, immediately
abandon it for higher ground. Try to open the door or roll down the window
to get out of the vehicle. If you are unable to get out safely, call 911
or get the attention of a passerby or someone standing on higher ground so
that they may call for help.
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