Home Safety Zone - Flood Safety

Flood Safety

What's the number one rule of flood safety? Seek higher ground! And stay put.

What to Do to Stay Safe During A Rainstorm

When it's raining heavily, you probably know to stay away from areas in your city are prone to flooding, particularly if there's a flash flood warning in effect. And that can happen even after a rainstorm. The first place you probably want to be during a heavy storm is at home, where you know it's safe and you can keep an eye on things. But if you're at work or out shopping, the best thing you can do is stay where you are. You can call to check on family, but driving during heavy rains is dangerous. You never know when you're going to run into a flooded area. And you should never, ever drive through a large "puddle" even if it doesn't look all that deep. Part of the road could be washed away entirely under the water. This means the water could be much deeper than it appears, and it only takes 18 inches of water for your car to be swept away. Even if you're relatively sure the road is there, you still don't know what is lurking beneath the waters. There could be branches or other hazards that can damage your car. It's even harder to assess the situation if it's dark outside.

If your car gets swept away it can roll or flip, leaving you trapped inside. If you're able to get out, that's great, but you're facing all new threats because again--you don't know what else is in the water. But at least if you're able to escape when your car gets swept away, you'll still be alive.

The best flood safety advice we can give you is to stay put when it's raining heavily or there's the threat of a flood. Of course, this is good weather safety for any severe weather situation, whether it's flooding, hurricanes or tornadoes.

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