3 Reasons To Avoid Traveling During a Flood

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

No amount of travel tips will prepare you for driving through a flood.

Three Reasons Why You Shouldn't Travel During a Flood

It can be stressful and uncomfortable to stay in your home while you are waiting for professional water damage repair work to be done. However, it is better than the alternative of driving through a flooded street. If there has recently been a storm in Houston, TX, and there is a lot of water on the roads, here are a few reasons to stay at home.

1. You Can’t See the Road
When you are driving on a flooded street, you might feel confident that you know what you’re getting into, but this is often untrue. The excessive amounts of water could be hiding road damage and debris. What looks like a shallow puddle could really be a much deeper hole.

2. It’s Easy To Lose Control
It does not take much water to create an unsafe driving environment. Even just a few inches could result in hydroplaning. On a flooded street, the likelihood of losing control is high. For most vehicles, a couple of feet of water is enough to lift and carry it away or cause it to flip over. Drivers with smaller cars may experience the same in even less water.

3. Flooded Roads Can Damage Your Vehicle
If your own safety is not a convincing enough reason to stay off the roads, consider the potential damage to your car and your wallet. Your vehicle is not designed to be used in the water, and a flooded environment can damage your engine and other important parts. This can result in pricy repairs or even the need for a new car.
No amount of travel tips will prepare you for driving through a flood. No matter how experienced you are, it is much safer to stay home until the water has returned to a normal level. Not only can it compromise your safety but it can cause serious damage to your car as well.