Happy Flood Safety Awareness Week! There are lots of preparation ideas, in-flood actions and post-flooding work that can be discussed. All of this is well and good, but what about getting home from work during a flash flood? The fact of the matter is that 80% of flood-related deaths occur in a vehicle. A small bridge covered in water may not seem that bad. It could appear that there the water is only a few inches deep, or to be moving very fast.
When these ideas occur to you, remind yourself: WATER IS DECEIVING! The surface can be calm, but the flow of water could be very rapid. The apparent depth of the water could be an optical illusion. The water refracts light so what we see in the water is not the true image. If you are driving at night, do not even consider taking the risk! The surface of the water can appear to be solid ground, and attempting to drive through it could wipe your vehicle into the stream of water, possibly off of a bridge. It may seem rather silly to turn around and reschedule your entire day just because of a little water. Instead of feeling silly, remember that 80% of those drowning deaths were caused by water covering the roadway. Don’t let that happen to you. Turn around, don’t drown!