Latest Flooding News Shows It's The Unknown Killer--Protect Yourself From Floods
Posted: Tuesday, June 15, 2010
by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective
Flooding is the great deceiver. Many people simply cannot believe water from a hard rain can kill you. Years ago, I was driving a large SUV during a thunderstorm. Extremely heavy rain was pouring down and the ground was as hard as asphalt from weeks of very hot and dry conditions. In a matter of ten minutes the roadway I was on started flooding. The water was about a foot and a half deep and as I drove through it, my large SUV started getting tossed around by the turbulent water. I remember thinking how lucky I was to be driving such a big vehicle. I looked at the many vehicles in front and behind me, most of which that were smaller than mine, and thought how badly they must have been tossed around! That quick flooding was caused by heavy rainfall on hard, sun baked ground. The hard baked ground doesn't readily absorb the water and the water rolls away without being "sponged-up". That day, two people died while driving under a highway underpass about twenty miles from where I had been driving.
Don't be mistaken, take heavy rainfall seriously. Hard, dry ground, such as what happens when hot, dry conditions have persisted for a while can be perilous with heavy rainfall. Even if dry ground conditions aren't prevalent, roadways can still be dangerous from simply hard, persistent rain. This kind of rain can overwhelm the ability of the ground to absorb any more water and also sewer systems can become overwhelmed.
Flooding Basics
- Flooding can occur when ocean waves come on shore as in a hurricane or when rivers overflow, snow melts too fast, dams or levees break, or during heavy rainfall
- Flooding may cover a house all the way to the rooftop or just be a few inches of water
- Floods that happen very quickly are called flashfloods
- Flooding can happen in every U.S. state
- Floods/flash floods kill more people inAmerica than any other natural disaster
- 90 percent of U.S. natural disasters involve flooding
- Flooding is the most common of all natural disasters
- About 25 percent of flooding disasters occur in areas with a moderate to low risk of flooding
- Flooding causes property damage totals over a billion dollars yearly in the United States
- Most homeowner insurance plans do not cover flood damage (you must purchase separate flood insurance)
- Listen to TV or radio broadcasts for emergency and evacuation information. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately
- Do not walk or drive through rushing water. Six inches of moving water is dangerous. It can knock you off your feet
- If you must walk through water, do so when it's not moving. Use a stick to test the ground in front of you. Move to higher ground. Natural areas such as high hills, etc. are best. Second best are strong solid structures that are not apt to collapse from flooding or other natural disasters
- Avoid areas close to sewers or storm drains
- Stay away from power lines on the ground, they can possibly electrocute you
- During or after, watch out for small animals or snakes that may take may take refuge in your home
- Obey road closed signs (I know of one SUV that didn't and ended up in a raging river)
Flooding is dangerous and deadly. Do not underestimate its power. Be informed and heed the advice of governmental or weather experts when dealing with the wrath of uncontrolled water.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Good info Steve, We live in a flash flood area. Lots of dangerous washes in Texas that look deceivingly innocent until a few inches of rain falls. Then you can hear the roar up the canyon and you'd better get to high ground. .I've never been in Texas and the little I do know is that it does appear to be safe, flood wise--seems so flat. I can just imagine hearing that roar and knowing it's time to head for the high country! Thanks for reading and writing E.
Amazing. There's a lot in your article that I didn't know. I do know I tend to not take flooding seriously... Did. Not any more!Good...I hope you stay safe.
Good article Steve. I don't live in an area with issues, but I fly fish. I was recently in the NC mountains fishing when there was flash flood warnings. I took it very serious and stayed out of the water. Better to live to fish another day.Thanks for the example/story and I wish I was fly fishin!
I live in Florida,( sometimes known as the hurricane capital of the world), where during the summer flooding is sometimes a way of life. I had the pleasure to get caught in a tremendous flood-producing rain storm while riding my scooter. Adrenalin produced by the awareness that I can be pounded from my bike at any moment helped me to take the precautions necessary to save me from harm. A short time later, a day before my birthday, I stopped at a gas station to fill up my bike. It was a cloudy, dry seemingly safe day, which distorted my awareness to the small amount of oil that somehow got on my tire. After I left the station I needed to turn down the next street. I made the sharp turn then the bike slipped and fell on my ankle when we hit the ground. I did not feel much pain but I could not stand on my right leg. But I managed to pick the bike up, give some lady the finger who was yelling at me to hurry up, and rode to my destination. I had a temporary assignment with UPS. The driver saw me hobbling to his truck after I locked up my bike.I told him what happened but I refused to call off. For 6 hours I delivered packages hopping on my left leg to each house. After I got home, I prepared myself to go to a dance. I could not disappoint the lady who invited me even though I could not walk, let alone dance. When I met her at the dance hall I told her what happened but I would stay with her for awhile. When we danced I managed on one leg. Everybody thought I created a new dance called the one-hop. After an hour, I told her that I think I better go to the hospital. The doctor at the hospital determined that I had a broken ankle. I managed to get my crutches on the scooter and get home. I was out of commission for about 6 weeks. I got good vicodin out of it. The moral of the story is to not only be aware when obvious danger such as floods are threatening but also be aware when everything seems to be safe. Also never try to dance on a broken ankle. Now, the only flood that I will be aware of today is a flood of beer to celebrate Father's Day. Happy Father's day to you and your father.Thanks Mike and you ought to market that dance-The One Hop--sounds like a winner.Thanks,SteveThanks Steve, I'll give it a shot.
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