{"id":24248,"date":"2013-01-17T10:31:49","date_gmt":"2013-01-17T10:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.idrivesafely.com\/?p=24248"},"modified":"2019-02-13T17:10:18","modified_gmt":"2019-02-13T17:10:18","slug":"guest-post-the-dangers-of-driving-in-flood-waters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.idrivesafely.com\/blog\/the-dangers-of-driving-in-flood-waters\/","title":{"rendered":"[GUEST POST] The Dangers of Driving in Flood Waters"},"content":{"rendered":"

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With winter upon us, it\u2019s important to keep safe driving habits in mind so you know what to do when the weather turns nasty. It might surprise you to learn that of all weather-related deaths in the U.S., floods claim the highest number of lives.<\/p>\n

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA)\u00a0<\/span>National Weather Service<\/a>, there were 113 flood-related deaths in 2011, and 68 of those were vehicle-related. Unfortunately, those numbers are not an anomaly. The\u00a0<\/span>Center for Disease Control<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>reports that each year over half of all flood-related deaths occur in vehicles.<\/p>\n

Why are these numbers so high? It\u2019s common for drivers and pedestrians to underestimate the power of floodwaters.\u00a0<\/span>FEMA warns<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>that just six inches of fast moving water can take down an adult, 12 inches of water can float most vehicles while two feet of water can sweep most vehicles away. This applies to vehicles of all sizes, so driving an SUV or a truck doesn\u2019t protect you against the force of Mother Nature. Once a vehicle is caught in floodwaters, the driver has no control. Yet drivers continue to ignore signage and barricades, putting themselves directly into dangerous areas.<\/p>\n

\"Turn-Around-Dont-Drown\"<\/a>To warn against the risks, in 2005 the NOAA along with the U.S. Department of Transportation organized a national campaign called\u00a0<\/span>Turn Around Don\u2019t Drown\u00ae<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(TADD). With signage, brochures, and other educational materials, TADD continues to encourage flood safety. Yet many drivers and pedestrians still don\u2019t know the risks that floods can pose. In fact, even a small amount of water on the road can be a hazard.<\/p>\n

No two flood situations are the same. According to FEMA: \u201cSome floods develop slowly, while others such a flash floods, can develop in just a few minutes and without visible signs of rain.\u201d It\u2019s good to know if you are in a high flood-risk area. A flood zone can be a low-lying area, near water such as a river or stream, or behind a levee or downstream from a dam.<\/p>\n

The National Weather Service\u2019s message is simple: when you come upon a flooded area, \u201cTurn Around, Don\u2019t Drown.\u201d Heed warning signs, and even if you don\u2019t see any but there\u2019s water in the road, your safest choice is to go another way. You might think your vehicle will be safe, or you may even see another driver make it across a flooded road, but it\u2019s wisest not to even take the risk. Keeping yourself safe should be your most important concern.<\/p>\n

To avoid flood danger, the NOAA offers these safety tips:<\/h2>\n