The "Turn Around, Don’t Drown" rule of flood waters

With storms continuing to pound the East Coast and other parts of the country, the dangers of driving and walking through flood waters can’t be ignored. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock over an adult, while 12 inches can carry away a small car. Follow the Turn Around, Don’t Drown rule of flood waters. It’s advice to live by.

And learn more about your risk of flooding, the most common natural disaster in the United States.

Also:
 If you live in an area prone to hurricanes or tropical storms, emergency preparation is key. Even areas well away from the coastline can be threatened by flooding, high winds, and even tornadoes.

Be prepared for severe storms:

• Check for alerts at the National Hurricane Center and your local weather at weather.gov.
• Know your risk if you live in an evacuation zone and check your local weather channels regularly for updates.
• Know where to go if you're area is designated for evacuation.
• Develop a plan that identifies all of the steps that as a family you need to take before, during, and after a disaster to ensure maximum personal safety and property protection (Download NOAA’s Weather Safety: Hurricanes publication (PDF).