Turn Around, Don’t Drown

David A. Lane
Jul 28, 2017 · 2 min read

Over the next thirty-six hours, the Washington, DC area is going to get one of the most significant dousing not associated with a tropical storm. Predictions of rain fall totals could be as high as an inch and hour with some areas receiving upwards of four inches. This will result in a lot of flooded every things, from backyard depressions to small lakes. Pressure will be exerted on dam infrastructures and other riverine structures. And that does not include all the garbage, both natural and man-made that will be flushed into the watershed over the course of the weekend.

It will also result in a number of swift-water rescues. Do not be one of those being rescued. One of the largest dangers will be water over roads. There are two dangers here. Water, flowing rapidly over a road, only needs a few inches to float a car and wash it away. But what is worse, is that in those areas that are prone to this sort of flooding, there is a greater risk of the road being washed away and the average driver no knowing there is no road there any more. And that creates an even bigger risk.

For your own safety, if you see water flowing over a road, turn around, don’t drown.The life you save may just be your own!

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