Flash floods can strike any time and any place with little or no warning. In mountainous or flat terrain, distant rain may be channeled into gullies and ravines, turning a quiet streamside campsite or wash into a rampaging torrent in minutes. City streets can become rivers in seconds.
Flash flood waves, moving at incredible speeds, can roll boulders, tear out trees, destroy buildings and bridges, and scour out new channels. Killing walls of water can reach heights of 10 to 20 feet. You won't always have warning that these deadly, sudden floods are coming.
When a flash flood warning is issued for your area or the moment you first realize that a flash flood is imminent, act quickly to save yourself. You may have only seconds!! Observe these flash flood safety rules, they could save your life.
- Keep alert for signs of heavy rain (thunder and lightning), both where you are and upstream. Watch for rising water levels.
- Know where high ground is and get there quickly if you see or hear rapidly rising water.
- Be especially cautious at night. It's harder to recognize the danger then.
- Do not attempt to cross flowing water which may be more than knee deep. If you have doubts, don't cross.
- Don't try to drive through flooded areas.
- During threatening weather listen to commercial radio, TV, or a weather radio for Watch and Warning Bulletins.
- Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc.
- If driving, know the depth of water in a dip before crossing. The road bed may not be intact under the water.
- If the vehicle stalls, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground - rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and it's occupants and sweep them away.
- Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly during threatening conditions.