Every year, basic flash flood safety tips turn out to be good advice for millions of Americans. Flash floods are considered a coast-to-coast threat because they may result from a variety of triggering events. The most common cause of flash flooding is extreme amounts of rainfall or snow melt occurring faster than the soil can absorb the water. A flash flood can take place within minutes or up to several hours after a triggering event. It's important to note that flash floods may affect dry areas distant from the area where the heavy rain actually fell.
A flash flood watch issued by the National Weather Service is a notification to stay alert because conditions that may result in flooding are possible. A flash flood warning, however, means flooding is imminent or already occurring. It's an urgent message to take immediate action to preserve life. If the National Weather Service issues a flash flood warning, here are a few flash flood safety tips to keep in mind:
- If you are advised to evacuate, act fast to move to higher ground. Lock your house and go. Once a warning has been issued, you may have only a very short time to reach safety.
- The safest action is to go to the nearest higher ground on foot. If you must drive your vehicle, don't attempt to drive through flooded areas. The majority of flash flood deaths in the U.S. occur inside vehicles swept away by high water. If your car should be swamped by flood water, abandon the vehicle at once and get to higher ground on foot.
- Don't walk or wade into moving water. Flowing water only six inches deep has enough velocity to knock you down.
- Avoid any casual contact with standing water. Flood water may be extremely toxic due to raw sewage or chemicals that have been picked up along the path of flooding.
- If the potential for threatening weather exists, don't camp or park near streams or dry washes.
For more flash flood safety tips, ask the professionals at Rytech, Inc.
