Surviving a Flash Flood in Your Car

Here at Big Bags USA, we're all about flood protection and prevention.  Our product works as a temporary flood barrier to keep water out of the roadways. However, if you find yourself caught in a flash flood while in your car, we want you to be prepared!  Almost half of flash flood deaths happen while in a vehicle. Driving through flash flood areas can be extremely dangerous and its important to know what to do in this emergency situation. Firstaid.About.com has a great list of tips to remember if you get caught in a flood.

If you find yourself caught in a flash flood...


1. Never drive through a flooded roadway, bridge, parking lot, etc.  Instead, back up and try a different route.

2. Try to get to and stay on high ground.

3. Listen to the radio for information on the weather conditions.  Information is available from the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards and can be used to help you take routes that avoid the flooded areas.  

4. Do not stay in a flooded car.  If your vehicle is surrounded by floodwater, get out of the vehicle and head to higher ground immediately.

5. If your car gets swept into the floodwater and is submerged, try to stay calm rather than panic.  Wait for the vehicle to fill with water and then the doors will open.  Hold your breath and swim to the surface.

6. If you are pulled into fast moving floodwater outside of your car, point your toes downstream.  If you run into any obstacles, go over them; never try going under them.

7. If you are stranded on something such as a tree above the floodwater, stay there and wait for a rescue team to arrive.  Do not enter the floodwater.

8. Avoid contact with floodwater if at all possible.  Floodwater may be contaminated with oil, gas or sewage and can even be charged with electricity from fallen power lines.

To try to avoid a flash flood...


1. Know the meanings of the terms associated with floods so you know what to expect:
  • Flood Watch: Flooding is possible, tune into a weather station so you are aware of any changes. 
  • Flash Flood Watch: Flash floods are possible and you need to be prepared to move to higher ground quickly.  Continue to listen to the weather.  
  • Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or will occur soon and you need to evacuate immediately. 
  • Flash Flood Warning: A flash flood is occurring and you need to move by foot to higher ground immediately. 

2. Don't rely on an official warning.  Floodwater can move fast, so if there is a possibility of a flood move to higher ground as soon as possible. 

3. Don't walk into moving water.  Even just six inches of moving water can pull you down. 

4. Don't overestimate your car's ability to drive through floodwater.  Just like if you are walking six inches of water is enough to do some damage.  It is enough to reach the bottom of most regular sized cars.  Driving in this situation can cause a loss of control or stall the car.  Most cars will float in a foot of water and two feet of rushing water will sweep most vehicles including trucks.  

Storm Water Management is one of our specialties here at Big Bags USA. Before you find yourself in a flooding situation, give us a call so you have our product on hand and ready to deploy in case of an emergency. Big Bags USA is a rapid deployment flood barrier, an alternative to sandbags.  We are pioneering ideas in disaster prevention and sandbag replacement that are fast, reliable and easy to integrate.  The systems deploy 200 times faster than conventional sandbags.  One system can be placed & filled in 10 minutes with only 2 men!  Give us a call today at 800-337-0537 to learn more and order your system today!

If you have an immediate need for our systems, or have any questions for us, please Call us Toll Free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.


D.R.I.P.S.
Disaster Relief & Innovative
Protection Systems, LLC
(573) 480-6699

Let's Connect!


ALWAYS READY TO HELP LOCAL, STATE, & FEDERAL AGENCIES ... BE PREPARED! 

Location: Camdenton, MO 65020, USA

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