Defensive Driving: Use the NWS "Turn Around; Don't Drown" PSA to Save Your Life

With all the storms and rain that has recently hit the Great Plains and Midwest, flooding is going to happen. Whether it is localized flooding or major flooding, lots of rain can quickly flood streets, highways, and interstates.

This saying from the National Weather Service is a good one to heed. While most people try not to drive across flooded roads, there are those who will because they think they are invincible, it's nothing but water, and they can make it through without any problems.

I try to avoid any flooded roads. There have been times when it was just unavoidable. However, I did watch to see as other cars, pickups, and trucks went through before driving through these areas myself. If it looked impossible for my car, I would not do it.

When it comes to flooding on streets, highways, and interstates, you may never know when the road or bridge can be washed out due to flooding. There have been a few bridges and roads around the area I live that has had this happen due to major flooding from the two rivers in the area. When signs are up stating a road is closed due to flooding, heed those signs. One great example is this picture of river flooding south of Belle Plaine, Kansas. In this picture the Ninnescah River had went out of its banks west and south of this small town.

If you notice the car in the forefront of the picture, it is about a quarter of a mile from the river. This is how far out this river flooded across the road on this side of this county road. The water in the far side of the picture is the river and flooding on the other side of the bridge under the water.

The car and its driver were not in the water, but a local making sure people stopped and turned around before moving on. If someone had decided to drive into this they would have been pushed down stream, drown and lost their vehicle.

Even when news stations show rescue workers rescuing stranded motorists driving through flooded roadways, people still do it. One would think this would get people to rethink doing just this, but it has not stopped people from doing so.