Safe Driving Tips During a Flash Flood

When a flash flood strikes, you need to be prepared behind the wheel. Waters can rise quickly, and emergency crews can’t always block off roadways right away, so you have to watch for warning signs. Knowing how to drive in a flood or avoid one altogether can make all the difference. Here’s what to know about navigating a flooded road. 

Pay Attention to the Weather Forecast 

The National Weather Service has four levels of flood-related warnings. Use them to plan for safety during floods. If there’s flooding in the forecast, consider changing your driving plans. 

• Flood watch: Flooding is possible.
• Flood advisory: Flooding is forecast but not expected to be serious enough to need a flood warning.
• Flood warning: A flood is happening or about to occur.
• Flash flood warning: A flash flood is happening or about to occur. Move to higher ground.

Know Your Risk 

Floods are the top cause of death in thunderstorms, and over half of flood-related drownings happen when someone drives into flood waters. That’s never safe; the best advice for how to drive through water is to turn around and head to higher ground. It’s not worth the damage to your car and the danger to your life. 

It can be hard to estimate how deep water is on a flooded roadway, and the depth and conditions can change quickly. 

• 12 inches of water can carry away a typical car.
• 2 feet of water can carry away most SUVs and trucks.
• The roadway under floodwater or past a barricade may have collapsed.

Follow Public Safety Advice 

If you’re in your home and floodwaters are rising, you may be tempted to take your vehicle and leave. But that could put you in more danger. In some situations, more people die in floodwaters in their cars than in their homes. 

Be Familiar With Your Area 

In some locations, it’s common for low bridges and roadways to flood periodically. If these areas are near your home, work or areas where you usually travel, plan alternate routes ahead of time so you can avoid dangerous waters. 

Avoid bridges over fast-moving floodwater, since the water can damage the footings and make the bridge unstable. 

Keep Your Vehicle Flood-Ready 

For safety during floods on the roads, take these two steps: 

• Make sure your car has plenty of gas. You want to be able to get to higher ground without being trapped with an empty gas tank.
• Be prepared. NPR recommends an emergency tool kit with a window smasher, a seat belt cutter and a whistle. If your car is being swept away, getting out may be safer than staying in it.

Know What to Do if You Get Stuck  

If your vehicle gets stuck in flood waters you should: 

• Turn on your lights so rescuers can see you.
• Unbuckle your seat belt and take off jackets and heavy clothing that could weigh you down if it gets wet.
• Slowly lower your window. If your window won’t work, wait until the car is almost full of water before you try to open the door. Don’t waste your energy trying to open a door against the force of water.
• If you have a window-breaking tool, don’t use it if water is reaching the window. Glass will fly into the car from the pressure.
• Do not stay with your car or stand on the roof of your car. Try to walk or swim to safety. 
• Don’t go back to your car if the water level starts dropping. It could start to rise again.

Check Your Auto Insurance Coverage

When it comes to driving in treacherous conditions, the most important thing is to keep yourself and any passengers safe.  But you’ll also want to make sure your vehicle is protected. Reach out to a Farm Bureau agent to see what insurance policies you need to protect your car and any possessions in it.