Driving through floodwaters can be fatal. What to do if you roll up on flooding in the Midlands

Tropical Storm Debby is expected to begin impacting the Midlands on Monday night, with rain lasting through Wednesday, according to a National Weather Service briefing Monday morning. The storms are expected to drop potentially historic levels of rainfall across South Carolina.

The storms could lead to flash flooding in the Midlands as early as Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Experts urge people to avoid travel during heavy rainfall that could lead to flash floods, but if you must venture out, here’s what you should know to stay safe.

First and foremost, don’t drive through floodwaters, even if the water does not look deep. If a road is flooded, turn around and find an alternate route.

“It takes just 12 inches of flowing water to carry off a small car, (and) 18 to 24 inches for larger vehicles,” the NWS warns.

The water may also be hiding washed-out road surfaces, electrical wires, debris or other dangerous objects.

More than half of all flooding deaths nationally occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water, according to the weather service.

If you’re on foot, you should also avoid flood waters, the weather service adds. Six inches of fast-moving floodwater can knock an adult down. Floodwaters may also contain downed power lines that could still electrocute a person.

These are the intersections that are most flood-prone in Columbia:

You can also review this interactive map to see the most flood-prone intersections in Columbia:

The Columbia Police Department and the Columbia Fire Department urge residents to avoid these intersections during heavy rainfall.

The Columbia Police Department has also noted that heavy rain and wind could impact traffic signals. If signals aren’t operational, the intersection should be treated as a four-way stop.

This story was originally published August 5, 2024 at 2:17 PM with the headline "Driving through floodwaters can be fatal. What to do if you roll up on flooding in the Midlands."

Morgan Hughes

The State

(803) 771-8330

Morgan Hughes covers Columbia news for The State. She previously reported on health, education and local governments in Wyoming. She has won awards in Wyoming and Wisconsin for feature writing and investigative journalism. Her work has also been recognized by the South Carolina Press Association.