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Hurricanes: Science and Society
Gallery
Photo of a flooded road and a sign that says "WATER OVER ROAD".
Road flooding
South Texas suffered severe flooding and wide spread power outages after Hurricane Dolly (2008). Many avoidable deaths occur due to hurricane flooding when motorists drive into floodwaters thinking they can safely drive through the water. As little as one foot of moving water can sweep a car off the road. Six inches of moving floodwater can sweep an adult off their feet. The Turn Around, Don't Drown national campaign initiated by the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is an excellent public safety movement that has saved lives across America by reminding motorists to NEVER drive through flooded streets if they cannot see the road.
Patsy Lynch/FEMA