When we see pictures of floodwaters covering roads and buildings the damage is severe and may be life-threatening. Two thirds of those who die in floods actually are killed while driving. Following some basic guidelines will help protect ourselves, our families and our vehicle.
Keep in mind wet pavement increases the time to stop and also may cause a vehicle to hydroplane by losing contact with the roadway. When encountering wet road conditions, we simply need to slow down as our first line of defense.
Be careful to keep your gas tank at least half full so you have the ability to idle if necessary or take longer detours.
Be careful when navigating and watch out for washed-out roads, slides, or downed trees. At night obstacles are much tougher to see, so become increasingly careful. Always assume a downed high-power line is live and avoid completely, remember water is a conductor of electricity. Stay away.
If your vehicle stalls even in very shallow water or you’re experiencing water rising around your vehicle leave immediately and climb to higher ground as fast as possible even in a few moments water may rise quickly to sweep your vehicle away.
Under no circumstances should you ever drive through a flooded roadway, you need to stop, turnaround and depart looking for another route. Drivers may easily lose control of the vehicle in only a few inches of moving water and your car may float in less than 2 feet of water. Additionally, you may not know how deep the water would be. Arizona takes entering flooded roadways seriously by enacting was known as the “Dumb Motorist Act”. When a motorist enters a roadway that says do not enter when flooded, and their car begins to wash away, the driver is charged with the full cost of the rescue and may also be charged with a criminal offense for endangering rescue workers. Do not risk your life or that of others by entering a flooded roadway.
If Your home is in a lower wide area subject to flooding act quickly by gathering your family together and departing your home for higher ground. Keep all of the family in one vehicle so you’re not likely to be separated and always keep in mind you want to protect your family, not all of your belongings that you may be forced to leave behind, which may be replaced. When you depart your home shut off your water gas and any electrical services before departing to protect rescue workers. Further, secure your home by walking all doors and windows and if official directions for evacuation have been provided follow them carefully.
Never Attempt to walk or swim through flowing water, if water is up to your ankles, stop and go in a different direction because 6 inches of moving water is enough to knock you off your feet. Also, many kinds of contaminants are going to be in the floodwaters and also you have no way of seeing what’s beneath your feet. You may easily step on a sharp object cutting your foot or knocking you off your feet and downstream. Even after the storm has begun to recede, never under any circumstances allow children to play around the high water or storm drains or small creeks.
Job said, “But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and as a rock is moved from its place, as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy a person’s hope. (Job 14:18-19) During a time of floods we need to be careful to avoid being washed away. Take a step of being ready for emergencies large and small by subscribing to the free Ready Christian membership and receive regular alerts and tips to strengthen your ability to minister in and through disasters.
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