Why It Is Critical to Always Respect the Phrase “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!"

DISCUSSION: As we get deeper into the summer of 2018, there is no question that one of the top forecasting and logistical issues tied to summer weather events is the seasonal concerns tied to both flooding and flash flooding events. In the day and age that we all live in now, it is not unheard of to hear the phrase “We are running late and need to get there soon.”  However, there are certainly some situations in life which many people would wish that they did not live out that thought-process to its fullest possible extent.  More specifically, during the Spring and even more so during the Summer-time months, the increased potential for both flooding and flash flooding events makes for an even more dangerous situation when it comes to impatient and/or impulsive drivers.
 
Many people always tend to live by the philosophy best characterized as “Oh, how bad could it be?” or “Really, it does not look that bad down this road?”  However, it is precisely statements such as those which often will cause the worst situations one can possibly put themselves in when it comes to dealing with heavy rainfall-induced floodwaters. When it comes to approaching flooded roadways during and/or just after the conclusion of very heavy rainfall events, it is imperative to respect the natural power of the rushing water along a flooded roadway. To be more precise, it has been estimated that approximately six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and potential stalling.  Moreover, it is also estimated that roughly a foot of water can typically float most vehicles and then two feet of rushing water will carry away most vehicles in most situations.
 
Thus, if you are ever faced with the decision for whether to pass across or near a flooded roadway, always be sure to make the smart decision to navigate around such roadway(s) and simply find a nearby detour. This way you can always make the smarter decision to avoid putting yourself in any sort of life-threatening situation that you may not be able to escape from. Thus, always do the smart thing, and “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.”

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© 2018 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz