Rain showers this spring could be potentially heavy so now is the time to make a plan in case of flooding in the area.
Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery stresses the importance of not driving through flooded roadways, during this Flood Safety Awareness Week.
“If you see water across the road, turn around,” said Avery. “We don’t want people driving through it. You see all the time when people get out in the middle of a road that’s flooded and their car stalls. It could be worse where the current is strong enough that it can sweep away the vehicle.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters.
Six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away a small car, while two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles.
A flood watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a specific hazardous weather event to occur. A flood advisory is issued when a specific weather event is forecast to occur that may become a problem in the area. A flood warning is issued when a hazardous weather event is imminent or already happening. If a flash flood warning is issued, a flash flood is imminent or occurring. If you are in a flood prone area, move immediately to high ground.
If road officials have put up barriers to warn of high water, do not go around the barriers as the road is hazardous for travel. Find an alternate route to get to your destination.
