Avoiding Floods at All Costs Is Important for Your Vehicle

In an Emergency, if You Have to Drive Through a Flood…

Although you should avoid driving through floods at all costs, if you are in an emergency situation where you have to drive through an area of flooding or cross a flooded street, here are some tips:

• Avoid fast moving water
• Enter around 1-2 mph
• Cross at 3-4 mph
• Drive in the center of the road, the highest part
• Let cars cross one-by-one
• After exiting the water, dry the brakes with slow, light taps

If you are able to, you should check the depth of the water on the road you are about to cross. You should never drive through a flooded road that you would not be able to walk across.

Car Damage Due to Floods

Flood damage can ruin a vehicle in a number of ways, from eating way at wiring to seizing up mechanical systems. The worst thing is that the damage might not show up for months after the flooding happens. 

Driving through flooded roads may damage a vehicle’s engine, warp the brake rotors, cause loss of power steering, and also short circuit electrical components. Even if the flood water does not rise above your bumper, it is possible for water to be sucked into a vehicle’s engine. 

There is a danger of stalling in high water. If your vehicle stalls during an active storm, flood waters can rise quickly and sweep away your vehicle therefore you shouldn’t stay inside it. You should never try to restart your vehicle while it is in flood water, as that could cause more water to enter the engine and can cost thousands of dollars to repair. 

The Dangers of Driving Through Floods

Getting your car stuck in flooded waters is not only a danger to you and your vehicle, but also puts emergency workers who will need to come help you at risk as well. 

Most people drive through flooded water because they assume it is shallow, which may be far from true. When approaching a flooded road, you have no way to tell if the road was sunken or has worn away and you don’t know what is under the water. There could be large objects in your way, or even a wire down. Electrical currents travel through water and can cause electrocution.

It only takes 6 inches of water to cause a vehicle’s tires to lose traction and slide around. In about a foot of water, most cars start to float, meaning that you are unable to steer or brake your vehicle. With no control of your vehicle, you can get into a serious crash injuring yourself and others. 

Ray’s Automotive Is Here to Help!

If your car is damaged from flooding, call Ray’s Automotive! We are experienced in all types of flood damage and collision repair. We are a family owned business that cares about helping all of our customers get back on the road safely. Give us a call today and we are happy to help!