Kirsten had to get home, she simply had to. The babysitter was scheduled to leave, her teenager needed to be picked up from practice and she was cold and wet. She peered through the pounding rain at the road ahead of her, trying to determine if the pool of water in front of her was just a shallow puddle of water or something more menacing.

Do not play a guessing game on flooded highways. When confronted with a body of water it is best to find an alternative route or seek higher ground and wait the storm out or call for emergency roadside assistance for advice from your provider.

“Why do so many people die in flash floods? Aside from the factor of surprise (many people are caught sleeping), people just don’t appreciate the power of moving water. Even six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock you off your feet. Most automobiles will float and can be swept away in only two feet of water. Never try to walk, swim, or drive through the swift currents of a flash flood. Nearly half of all U.S. flash flood fatalities are auto related. Never attempt to drive over a flooded road. The depth of water is not always obvious. Also, the road bed may have been washed out under water. Dry creek beds can go from dusty bone dry to a ten-foot-deep torrent of water within a minute as the thunderstorm rains drain down from surrounding higher terrain.

Many vehicle-related fatalities are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded. Whether you are driving or walking, if you come to a flooded road.

Turn Around Don’t Drown! You will not know the depth of the water nor will you know the condition of the road under the water.”

(Source)