Why You Should Not Drive on Flooded Streets

3/24/2021 (Permalink)

Never drive through a flooded roadway. Turn around, don’t drown.

A flooded street poses many dangers to drivers, passengers, and personal property. Flooding can happen quickly and unexpectedly. If your neighborhood in Diamond Bar, CA, experiences a flood, it is important to follow some precautions to stay safe. By knowing the dangers you are likely to encounter when streets are flooded, you can lower your risk of being caught off guard.

What Could Go Wrong

You cannot maintain control of your vehicle on flooded roads. As little as twelve inches of water can be enough to carry away a small car. If you do not have traction with the ground, your vehicle can be washed away or flipped on its side. Streets with certain characteristics are more likely to flood:

• At the bottom of hills
  
• Underneath overpasses
  
• Where good city drainage is not properly installed
  
• Near rivers, streams, or bodies of water
  
• Where the road dips or is lower than the ground around it
  
  

What To Do Instead
If you are traveling familiar routes, think ahead to determine the likelihood of encountering flooded roads. You can also check local news and apps for travel tips to help keep you safe. If you determine the route to be unsafe, try to plan a different way to your destination. If there is no safe way, or you encounter a flooded street along the way, do not drive into the water. If you find yourself in flooded water despite your best intentions, you should leave your car if the water is calm and still. If there is a current in the water, you are advised to remain in your vehicle and call for help. It only takes six inches of fast-moving water to sweep a person off the ground.
You can minimize the likelihood of harm to yourself and your vehicle by not going near a flooded street. However, if your home or auto sustains damage, a professional water restoration service can help get your belongings back to normal as quickly as possible.