Health Leader, Driving in the Rain

STORY BY

Karen Krakower

According to the Red Cross, the NOAA, and FEMA, vehicles are involved in half of all flood-related deaths.

One simple physics equation is all you need to remind yourself of how dangerous it is to attempt to drive or stay with your car in high water:

When you are submerged deeply enough, the weight of the volume of water that you’re displacing is equal to your own weight. You become buoyant.

So, when the weight of the water that is displaced by the submerged part of your car becomes equal to the weight of your car, your CAR becomes buoyant.

Most cars will float in two feet of water.

Parts I & II

Hurricane & Flood Handbook

Noah's Ark:
When Your House
Becomes A House Boat

Resources

Hurricane Evacuation Map
(Brazoria / Galveston / Harris County)

Hurricane Evacuation Contraflow Plan
(Houston)

What to do while driving

If you are driving through forceful winds or hail, get to a covered area, such as a parking garage if possible.
If you are driving through water: assume that at some point during your journey, there will be impassable water. Consider pulling off to a gas station or parking lot that sits higher than the street until the rains slow or stop.
If you are driving through streets flooded to curb height, keep your speed low and your foot on the accelerator to avoid water back-flowing into the exhaust pipe, which will stall you. If you drive a truck or SUV, curb your confidence and slow down so that you do not displace enough water to flood smaller cars. Then pull into a higher area off the street as soon as possible.
If you approach an area that looks too deep, it probably is. Do NOT attempt to cross it. Look up the road so that you do not have to stop at the impasse and attempt to turn around which not only raises your chance of flooding, but also creates traffic chaos.
If you do find yourself in increasingly deeper water, immediately roll down your window in case you need to swim out of it. If your windows are electric, they will fail if the car stalls.
If your car stalls in high water, abandon the car immediately. Two feet of water can sweep a car or SUV away. Climb to higher ground.

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UPDATED: 6-20-2007

Health Tip:

Microwaves and 'Erupted Hot Water Phenomena'

Hot-water eruption can occur if you use a microwave oven to super-heat water in a clean cup. ("Super-heated" means the water is hot beyond boiling temperature, although it shows no signs of boiling.)

A slight disturbance or movement may cause the water to violently explode out of the cup. There have been reports of serious skin burns or scalding injuries around people's hands and faces as a result of this phenomenon.

Adding materials such as instant coffee or sugar to the water before heating greatly reduces the risk of hot-water eruption. Also, follow the precautions and recommendations found in microwave oven instruction manuals; specifically the heating time.

More microwaves safety tips.