Don't drown, turn around!

8/13/2020 (Permalink)

Most of the flood related deaths occur in cars, because the driver didn’t realize the depth of the floodwater. However, even a little bit of standing water on a road can cause a big-time problem. Here's what can happen at specific water depths:

• 6 inches: Water up to 6 inches deep can cause your tires to lose traction with the road. When this happens, your vehicle can skid. While you probably won't drown in this situation, losing control of the vehicle may cause you to crash.
• 12 inches: A foot of water can cause small and midsize vehicles to float. If the water is moving fast, your car can be carried away by the current—with you still inside.
• 24 inches: Even large pickups and SUVs can be swept away by 2 feet of water on a flooded street. Worse yet, as the vehicle is carried along, it may tip over, trapping you inside with the floodwater still rising.