Driving through flood waters is dangerous and should be avoided if possible. The advice, “Turn around, do not drown” is wise. Attempting to drive through flood waters puts you and your passengers at risk for a car accident, can irreparably damage your vehicle, and can jeopardize the lives of first responders should they need to come and rescue you.
The increase in catastrophic weather events means that around the United States, drivers are encountering heavy rain and storm conditions more often. According to the National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), driving into hazardous water is responsible for more than half of all flood-related drownings. This discussion explains why flood waters are so dangerous and what to do if you are faced with a flooded road.
Flood waters are unpredictable; what may seem like six inches of water can actually be much deeper, but you will not know that until it is too late. The water may appear calm enough to cross but could unexpectedly surge before you get to the other side. Some hazards associated with flood waters are as follows:
It is always best to avoid driving through flood waters. Preparation for a storm is key to staying safe. Check the weather during storm events to prevent being caught in a situation with the possibility of flash flooding. Plan elevated routes that circumvent watershed areas such as Rock Creek Park, Difficult Run, or the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River and roadways that routinely flood such as Beach Drive, Sligo Creek Parkway, Broad Branch Road, and Goldsboro Road along Minnehaha Branch. It is also important to realize that around the Washington DC region, there are larger tributaries such as Rock Creek that experience delayed flash flooding with water levels rising as much as an hour later after heavy rains occur upstream.
If the National Weather Service issues flash flood warnings before your trip, you should seriously consider postponing travel.
If you are already traveling and come to a flooded area, turn around and find an alternate route; however, if this is not possible, you can take these steps to assess the safety of the water in front of you:
If the water is too high, moving too fast, or otherwise too dangerous, you should try to move to higher ground and wait out the flood. In the case of flash flooding, the water should recede as the rain passes almost as quickly as it occurred.
Driving through flood waters poses a serious risk to your life, but even if you make it through unharmed, you could easily total your vehicle by crossing a flooded road, especially if you live in a coastal area where salt water may be part of the flood water. As mentioned above, the flood waters can cause an engine stall and ruin it beyond repair; however, the damage to your vehicle may be much more extensive, including the following:
If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident, the experienced Washington DC car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Duane O. King can help. We will investigate your case and fight to hold the responsible party accountable. Call us today at 202-331-1963 or contact us online for a free consultation. Located in Washington DC, Alexandria, Virginia, and National Harbor, Maryland, we work with clients in Prince George’s County, including Laurel, Beltsville, Adelphi, College Park, Greenbelt, Mitchellville, Woodmore, Greater Upper Marlboro, Springdale, Largo, Bowie, Capitol Heights, District Heights, Forestville, Suitland, Seat Pleasant, Clinton, Oxon Hill, Temple Hills, and Fort Washington.
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