Flooding may not appear to be as deadly as tornadoes or hurricanes, but you should respect the power of water.
Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard, according to the National Weather Service. Last year, there were 57 fatalities that were flood related in the U.S. Flooding is second to only heat in weather-related fatalities for the 10 and 30 year averages.
Flooding is the most common global natural disaster, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They also say that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water.
It only takes 6 inches of flowing water to knock you off your feet. It is also enough flowing water to drown a person.
A foot of water can float vehicles and 2 feet of water can carry most large suvs, vans and trucks.
Water flowing at just 4 miles per hour produces a force comparable to an ef2 tornado's winds.
The reality is that flash flooding can happen anywhere, anytime and can occur within minutes.
You should never drive or walk into floodwaters of an unknown depth and should never drive around barriers warning you of a flooded roadway ahead.
You may not be able to tell if the roadway has been cleared out and you can easily underestimate the speed and shear power of flood water. As the National Weather Service advises, turn around don't drown!
