Flash flooding is the #1 weather-related killer in the U.S.!
More people are killed by flash flooding than by other storm-related weather hazards. In just 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock you off your feel! Most cars will float in just 16-18 inches of water but in the depth of just 2 feet of swift moving water will float your car! Never, ever drive, swim, or walk through swift flood waters. Stop, turn around and find an alternate route!
Two key elements factor for Flash Flooding. The first is the intensity and duration of the rainfall. The second is the topography: ground cover and soil conditions. Flash flooding can occur in just a few minutes (hence the word ‘flash’) or over a few hours of excessive rainfall (levee or dam failure, or a sudden release of water held by an ice jam).
What should you do in an event of flash flooding?
- Protect yourself by seeking higher ground immediately if you are near a flooding waterway.
- Watch the rising water and have a plan of action to evacuate if needed.
- Do not drive, swim, walk through water covered roadways.
One such Flash Flooding event: On June 14th, 1990 in Shadyside, Ohio, 4 inches of rain fell in less than 2 hours which produced a 30-foot high wall of water leaving around $7million in damages and 26 dead.
August 1st, 1985 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, 6 inches of rain fell in 3 hours leaving $61 million in damages and 12 people dead.
When a Flash Flood Warning is issued, take proper precautions for a flooding situation to occur or will occur in a few hours.
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