COLUMBIA, S.C. — When there is a risk of flooding, emergency personnel urge drivers to stay off the roads as much as possible.
Tropical Storm Debby is going to bring potentially catastrophic flooding to parts of the state of South Carolina over the next several days.
According to the National Weather Service, flooding is consistently ranked as the second deadliest weather event. That means more people are killed by flooding each year compared to tornadoes, hurricanes, and winter or cold weather.
One significant risk involved in flooding is that water can easily seep a vehicle off the road. According to the NWS, more than half of all the flooding deaths yearly happen in vehicles.
- Water as shallow as six inches can stall a car. Smaller vehicles can be swept off the road if the water is one foot. If the road is flooded between 18 and 24 inches, larger vehicles can also be swept off.
- Even if the water does not look deep, the driver can never see if the road is washed away, making driving through the water even more dangerous.
- If you get trapped in a car, experts encourage drivers to stay there if possible. If the water level is rising, drivers should exit the vehicle and climb on top of the roof.
- If you are not going through a flooded area, you should still take it slow when heavy rain is on the road. Not only can rain cause you to hydroplane, but it will be harder to stop if you come upon a flooded road.
- Drivers should also be aware of where they park. If you park near a stream, dip or other low areas, you could be putting your vehicle at risk during a flooding event.
