Home / Disasters and Accidents / Hidden Dangers Lurk Beneath Floodwaters
Hidden Dangers Lurk Beneath Floodwaters
11 Nov
Summary
- 12 inches of water can float many cars.
- Moving water can sweep away vehicles.
- Floodwater hides road damage and debris.
Driving through floodwater poses severe risks, with hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface. The National Weather Service's 'Turn Around Don't Drown' campaign emphasizes that even shallow water can be treacherous. About 12 inches of water can float many cars, and two feet of moving water can sweep away most vehicles, including SUVs and trucks.
Floodwaters often conceal significant road damage, debris, and even open manholes, making a seemingly passable road dangerously unstable. Cars can lose steering and braking control as buoyancy reduces tire grip and currents exert powerful forces. Engines can suffer hydrolock, and electrical systems face corrosion that may cause failures weeks later.
Contact with floodwater also presents health hazards, as it can be contaminated with sewage, fuel, and chemicals. Escaping a stalled vehicle requires quick action, prioritizing opening windows and exiting to higher ground. Safer alternatives include checking forecasts, taking detours, or waiting for water to recede, treating any submerged road as impassable.
