Flooding: Turn Around, Don't Drown!

Flooding affects every region differently, but it poses a threat to every state in the nation. Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard. The “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!” campaign was created in 2003 to lessen preventable flood deaths.

Floods can occur due to heavy rain, overflowing rivers, high tides in coastal areas or storm surge associated with tropical systems. While the most immediate risk of flooding is drowning, hypothermia, bodily injuries and contaminated water are all other types of risks that can develop from floods.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters.

People often underestimate the force and power of water and many of these drownings are preventable. It only takes 6 inches of fast-moving flood water to knock over an adult. About 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks. It is never safe to drive or walk into flood waters.

Here are a few tips to avoid driving through floods:

• Before it rains, take note of any flood-prone areas on roads you use, such as dips in the road, canyons or washes.
• Look for alternate, less flood-prone roads than your typical routes.
• From the driver’s point of view above the road, the water can look several inches shallower than it really is. If there is water on the road, don’t assume that the road is "crossable." A few inches of water can decrease a car’s traction, causing the car to lose control.
• NEVER try to cross flowing streams.
• If the car stalls, exit it immediately and get out of the water as quickly as possible.
• During heavy rain, slow down to maintain control and avoid areas of higher water or even pull over to the side of the road.

Some floods develop slowly, while other types of floods can occur within minutes.  It’s important to know what to do in the event of a flood and when in question, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
 
Sources: NWS, U.S. Department of Commerce, Houstontx.gov
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Image: Edmund, Okla., June 15, 2010 -- A car lies in a ditch where flood waters forced it off Hefner Rd in Edmund, OK after the area experienced rain fall of almost 10 inches in six hours. (Patsy Lynch/FEMA Photo Library)