Success Story In Lancaster, PA

Tracy had never considered the hazards of driving across a flooded road until she viewed a National Weather Service (NWS) safety video called, “The Hidden Danger: Low Water Crossings.”  Little did she know, four weeks later, it would probably save her from harms way.

It was November 2003 and the ground was saturated from rain earlier in the week when Tracy was traveling to work over the back roads of rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Ominous dark clouds hovered over head when heavy rain suddenly “cut loose.”  As Tracy navigated slowly over the country road, she approached a flooded railroad underpass with more than of foot of flowing water 15 feet wide.

“I saw some motorists trying to navigate through the water and others turning around, “ stated Tracy.  “I thought of the safety video.  I remembered it is very dangerous to cross a flooded road even at a slow speed so I decided to turn around and play it safe.”

Tracy did the right thing.  Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other severe weather related event. Why? The main reason is people underestimate the force and power of moving water.  More than half of all flood related deaths occur in automobiles that 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 or take precarious risks.

Whether you are driving or walking, if you come to a flooded road, Turn Around Don't Drown.  You will not know the depth of the water nor will you know the condition of the road under the water.  By following the advice of one of the NWS' newest campaigns, “Turn Around Don't Drown,” Tracy avoided a potential life threatening situation.