Thunderstorms continue to be one of the most prominent natural disasters throughout Georgia. Depending on your area of residence, Georgia sees rainfall on a year-round basis. Typically caused by severe storm systems unleashing vast amounts of rain over a short period, flash floods often appear without warning signals. Floodwaters surge downhill, leaving rural areas and cities vulnerable to significant damage. Read on to learn what to do if your car gets stuck in floodwater.
What to do if you encounter flood waters while driving
Flood warnings often are typically only broadcast once the flooding has already begun. If you observe flood warnings while driving, your most urgent priority should be getting out of your car and finding higher ground on foot. If this is not an immediate option, remember to remain calm and avoid panicked thoughts.
Unfasten your seatbelt, unlock your car doors, then engage your hazard and headlights as a signal, alerting emergency personnel of your location. Slowly open the windows and, if able, crawl out of your car. If you are unable to open the windows, you will need to wait for the water pressure to stabilize before being able to use the door to escape.
Once you can exit the car, swim to safer grounds as soon as possible and immediately call 911 if there is no one to assist you. Finding dry land as quickly as possible is crucial because even 6 inches of moving water can be powerful enough to knock many adults over.
What not to do if your car gets stuck in floodwater
First and foremost, do not panic. Take a moment for a deep breath, and try not to burn precious energy on distressed or frightened thoughts. Forget about valuable possessions inside the car and save that 911 call for once you’ve found dry land. Your total focus should be centered entirely on your safety at this moment. If you attempt to break open your car window before the water pressure has yet to equalize, broken glass can flow inwards toward you or your passengers.
Once you have safely exited the vehicle, immediately find higher ground. If you believe water levels have dropped to manageable levels, do not return to your car because flood waters could rise again without notice.
Can you avoid getting stuck in floodwaters?
Residents throughout the low country or those living near large bodies of water are especially at risk for flooding in their communities. Your safety is paramount if your town is experiencing a flood, and no one is longing to be behind the wheel of an automobile in the middle of a disaster. However, proper preparedness can help you keep your wits under pressure and survive a flood in your car.
Avoid large pools of water on the road if you suddenly find yourself caught in a flood or flash flood, as gauging the depth of water on the street is nearly impossible, especially at night. A 6-inch puddle of water can result in power loss and costly damage to your vehicle, while waters 1 to 2 feet deep are powerful enough to jettison most cars from the road. This guide examines the valuable safety measures you can take to prepare yourself better if you are caught by surprise by flooded waters while driving.
Car Repairs And More At T3 Atlanta
In theory, we can all avoid a flood by keeping up with daily weather forecasts, but flash floods are erratic and hard to predict. Knowing your car is prepared for harsh weather conditions can instill valuable peace of mind while behind the wheel. T3 Atlanta has kept Lexus, Infiniti, Nissan, and Toyota drivers safely on the road since proudly opening our doors in 1994. Make an appointment by giving us a call today!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.