Hurricanes, Inland Flooding Lead to Dangerous Roads
Contact(s): Ron Trumbla, 817-978-1111
Heavy rainfall can occur many miles away from the center of the storm. The best advice for drivers, according to weather officials, is this: Never drive through water running across roadways. When drivers see water across roads or highways, they need to back up and choose alternate routes.
The Governor’s Division of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service say that water on a roadway can be much deeper than it appears, and water levels can rise very quickly. Flood waters erode roadways. A missing section of road, even a missing bridge, will not be visible with water running across the area, officials note.
The agencies note:
– Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and possible stalling.
– Twelve inches of water will float many cars.
– Two feet of rushing water will carry off pickuptrucks, SUVs and many other vehicles.
– Cars can become death traps because electric windows and door locks can short out when water reaches them, trapping occupants inside.
– More Texans die in floods than any other severe weather event. Most flooding deaths can be avoided if drivers turn around instead of driving into water across a road.
For images and more information on the Turn Around, Don’t Drown campaign, go to one of these Web sites: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tadd, http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem or http://www.flash.org/. Or, call Ron Trumbla at the National Weather Service at 817-978-1111.
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