Many parts of the country are experiencing a lot of rain — and the flooding that often comes with it.
Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters, according to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration of the US.
Because of their speed and unpredictability, flash floods are the most dangerous kind — especially for motorists.
“Flash floods occur when excessive water fills normally dry creeks or river beds along with currently flowing creeks and rivers, causing rapid rises of water in a short amount of time,” NOAA states on its website. “They can happen with little or no warning.”
“The single worst decision you can make in a flash flood is driving your vehicle into floodwaters of unknown depth,” The Weather Channel warns. “It’s easy to misjudge the depth of floodwater, particularly at night.”
According to the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, just 6 inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger vehicles and cause of loss of control and steering, while 1 foot of water can cause many vehicles to float away, and 2 feet is enough to sweep away most vehicles — even SUVs and pickup trucks.
On average, 75 people were killed by flash floods annually between 2004 and 2013, and between 1995 and 2010 two-thirds of flash-flood fatalities occurred in vehicles, according to The Weather Channel.
Heed the following do’s and don’ts of what to do if you find yourself trapped in your car in fast-rising water:
