Perhaps the biggest cause of flood-related deaths and injuries is lack of public understanding of the severity and danger involved in floods and flash floods. The following tips can help protect you during flood events:

• Many people are killed while trying to drive or walk on roads and bridges that are covered by water. Even though the water might look only inches deep, it could be much deeper and with very strong currents. It only takes two feet of water to carry away many cars; six inches of swiftly moving (6 mph) water will sweep a person off his feet.

• Trucks, two-wheel as well as four-wheel drive, and sports utility vehicles also are susceptible to being swept away by high water. Such vehicles often give motorists a false sense of security, believing the vehicles are safe under any conditions.  (Large tires add to the vehicle’s buoyancy, causing it to lose traction that much sooner.) This belief results in deaths or emergency rescues of motorists in vehicles either stuck in or swept away by flood waters.  Last year 23 people drowned in North Carolina when their vehicles were overtaken by floodwaters

• If you are approaching a flooded roadway, turn around and take an alternate route. Even though vehicles in front of you have passed through the high water, you may not be as lucky.

• If your car stalls, abandon it immediately and climb to higher ground. Many deaths have resulted from attempts to move stalled vehicles.

• Never let children play near creeks or storm drains when the water is rising or high. Every year, deaths or injuries occur as a result of people getting swept away, with the most frequent victims being children.

• Flooded streams and rivers are not safe for recreational boating. Many canoeists and kayakers had to be rescued from dangerous rapids in flood-swollen streams and rivers.

• Never set up a tent or camper on the bank of a river or stream. It is best to allow some distance between the campsite and water so if a flash flood does occur, you will have more time to move to higher ground.

• If you live in a low-lying area or near a creek, pay close attention to water levels during heavy rain events. Water levels rise rapidly during flash floods, often surprising victims. Heavy rainfall upstream can cause a river or stream to rise quickly, even if it is not raining near you. Be prepared to move quickly to higher ground if water levels begin rising. Quickly responding to an evacuation order can save your life.

• If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Follow recommended evacuation routes. Shortcuts may be blocked.