McMinn County, Tennessee Flood Prone Area Near My Home

The photo was taken near my home in McMinn County, Tennessee yesterday. Flooding covered almost all of the roadway. Only on one side of the road were the lines visible. The rest of the lines were covered by debris, dirt and mud which made crossing dangerous.

Portions of roads that flood frequently are marked with signs. These help residents remember that if they are going to approach these roadway portions to do so with care. Several other roads in the county faced the same circumstances. Motorists took alternate routes and were advised to use caution.

Flooded roadways can result from runoff, hurricanes or simply heavy rain. This area of Tennessee has seen steady rainfall for the past few days. The ground has become saturated. In many areas creeks or streams are overflowing and causing flooding.

What should you do if confronted with a flooded road? The National Hurricane Center tells the public to never drive across a flooded road.

Moving waters places an untold amount of pressure on any vehicle. Traction can be lost as mud and debris wash into the roadway which can cause traction to be lost. High waters can cause an engine to stall as currents push the vehicle off of a roadway. Water can cause the roadway to wash out or become unstable underneath the pavement.

My car is a PT Cruiser with low ground clearance. Driving across a road is never the best idea. However, even taller SUVs and pick-up trucks that have higher ground clearance are not immune from difficulties.

In the U.S., floods kill an average of 127 people annually and result in an $5.3 billion in damages. At least some of this loss is preventable. Financial costs pale in comparison to the possible loss of life. All too frequently, the losses are caused by people who misjudge the dangers and choose to drive into flood waters.

The National Weather Service campaign Turn Around Don't Drown educates the public on the dangers of crossing flooded roads. They advise to always turn around and take another route if your normal route is blocked.

Ultimately, I made the judgment call and chose to play it safe. The inconvenience can add a substantial amount of time to your daily commute. My vehicle and everyone in it arrived safely at our destination and that's what counts.

A slideshow of flooding in McMinn County, Tennessee is available at http://www.associatedcontent. com/slideshow/148555/mcminn_ county_tennessee_rain_flood. html.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dvn/?n=floodsafety_tadd

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/surge/flood_road.shtml

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tadd/taddsuccess.htm