The Risks Of Driving Through Flood Waters (And Why You Should Avoid It)

Once-in-100-year storms are becoming more and more common as the climate heats up, which means more and more people are going to face fleeing their homes in adverse conditions. You might know your neighborhood or local freeway corridors like the back of your hand, but things can change very fast in an disaster environment. While some sources online might give you recommendations on how to tell if a flooded road is safe to drive through, I'm here to tell you that it never is. 

You might think you know the depth of the water, but the road could be washed out as well, causing a higher water level than you might be familiar with on that stretch of road. There's no telling how deep or fast water covering a road is, and you risk being swept away even in larger vehicles. A foot of water is enough to float most passenger vehicles and two feet will sweep away even pickups and SUVs, according to the National Weather Service. The force of nature does not care about your giant SUV. Even if you keep all tires to the ground, you risk flooding your vehicle's engine, leaving you now stranded in a disaster in the middle of fast moving water. Or you could drive over debris that could pop your tires or damage components on the underside of the vehicle, like axles and oil pans. 

When it comes to the risks of drowning in your car hypothetical situation, The Centers for Disease Control found half of flooding deaths due to weather events occurred in cars. So what should you do? The NWS has a handy saying: Turn Around, Don't Drown. Don't drive into the floodwater. Drive to the highest ground you can find and stay there. If you car suddenly becomes surrounded by water, exit the vehicle and make for higher ground as soon as it is safe to do so. 

So don't believe guides, some from car insurance companies and even smaller local news outlets that should know better, telling you to just drive super, extra careful through flood waters. It's never safe and never worth the risk. And maybe avoid buying a used car in your area after a flood. They can be a real headache for unwary shoppers.