Flood waters may not look all that threatening on TV, especially if youre a skilled swimmer.
This is what you should do if you or your vehicle gets swept away by the raging waters.
Awareness and prevention is always going to be your best chance of survival.
A flood watch means flooding is possible in your area.
A flood warning means flooding is already occurring and you should be ready to evacuate if things get bad.
It also helps to know what spots are most likely to flood in your area.
If you see floodwaters,follow the NOAAs adviceand turn around, dont drown.
That means avoidingallmoving water, even if it seems to be very shallow.
Just six inches of moving watercan trip you up and knock you over.
Anything deeper than your ankles is bad news, especially at night when its much harder to see.
Mud and other slick surfaces can also easily topple you over.
And if floodwaters have reached your home,do not use your homes power.
Slow down and keep your eyes peeled.
If it isnt clear already,do not everattempt a water crossing with your vehicle.
It will not go well.
Turn around and find another route.
A good portion of theroughly 80 flood deaths that occur every yearare due to poor decisions made with vehicles.
Abandon your car and move to higher ground following the on-foot rules explained above.
Also,stay out of any leftover pools of floodwater, and continue to avoid all moving water.
As you make your way home, stay aware and watch for areas that were clearly damaged by floodwaters.
Weakened roads, bridges, and other routes can be dangerous to drive over.
Take the safest route possible.
If your home is surrounded and filled by floodwaters, do not go inside.
The water could be electrically charged and the building could be structurally unsafe.
