JBSA-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
“Turn Around – Don’t Drown.”
We’ve all heard this flood precaution. As with many oft repeated mottos – after a time people tend to let it go in one ear and out the other. However, San Antonio residents who ignore this warning do so at their peril.
According to the San Antonio River Authority, or SARA, San Antonio is in one of the most flash flood- prone regions in North America. Furthermore, data from the Flood Safety Education Project reveals that Texas leads the nation most every year in flood related deaths and damage.
Each year, more deaths occur in the United States due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm-related hazard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report more than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters.
People often underestimate the force and power of water.
Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn the road is flooded.
It only takes 6 inches of fast-moving flood water to knock over an adult. Most cars will float (and be swept away) in 18-24 inches of moving water. Trucks and sport utility vehicles are not much better with only 6-12 more inches of clearance. It is never safe to drive or walk into flood waters.
We all have seen the flooding that occurs in San Antonio, sometimes with only moderate rainfall. SARA officials point out it is San Antonio’s particular topography that causes this dangerous recurrence, because a large percentage of San Antonio contains what is known as impervious cover. Impervious cover prevents rain from soaking in the ground, which is a major contributor of water run-off leading to flooding during medium to heavy rainfall.
American Red Cross officials said floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters. Conditions that cause floods include heavy or steady rain for several hours or days that saturates the ground. Flash floods occur suddenly due to rapidly rising water along a stream or low-lying area.
Flash floods can roll boulders, tear out trees, destroy buildings and bridges and scour out new channels, according to the National Weather Service, Southern Region Headquarters. Rapidly rising water can reach heights of 30 feet or more. Furthermore, flash flood-producing rains can also trigger catastrophic mud slides.
The terms most used by weather forecasters when floods are predicted in the community are:
“No matter how many times we say, “Turn around – Don’t “drown,” every time it rains a group of people ignore this warning, drive around barriers, walk through standing water causing city officials to expended thousands of dollars on high water rescues, or worse, have to tell a family that their loved one died in a flood,” said Travis Kilpack, 502nd Air Base Wing occupational safety manager. “Sometimes folks wind up in these situations because they believe their 3,000-pound or more vehicle will remain in contact with the road surface … that it is too heavy to float.”
To that flawed logic Kilpack offers this sobering fact; “Aircraft carriers weighing 97,000 tons float. Vehicles and ships float because of buoyancy. He said in moving water all that needs to happen is for the vehicle to become buoyant enough for the force of the moving water to push it sideways.
Furthermore, Kilpack said automobile commercials advertising the ability to drive through water leads to a false sense of security at best and tragic consequences at worst. Once swept downstream, the vehicle will often roll to one side or perhaps flip over entirely. The driver then only has a few seconds to escape the vehicle.
Heeding the “Turn Around – Don’t Drown” warning and following the old adage often used to bracket a precautionary tale, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” can prevent people from becoming a flood water statistic.
The American Red Cross offers the following flood water safety recommendations:
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Listen to area radio and television stations and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio for possible flood warnings and reports of flooding in progress or other critical information from the National Weather Service
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Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
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When a flood or flash flood warning is issued for your area, head for higher ground and stay there.
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Stay away from floodwaters. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off of your feet.
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If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.
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Keep children out of the water. They are curious and often lack judgment about running water or contaminated water.
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Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood danger.
For additional information, visit the National Weather Service, Southern Region Headquarters Turn Around, Don’t Drown page at http://www.srh.weather.gov/srh/tadd/.