Flood and monsoon water

Turn around, don’t drown

The National Weather Service Turn Around Don't Drown page is specific. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars, and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks. You cannot see the hole under brown water. If you meet a flooded road, turn around. Do not drive around barricades.

Ready.gov’s flood guidance: know whether you live, work, or drive through a flood-prone spot; move valuables up if water is coming and you have time; disconnect utilities if officials tell you to and you can do it without standing in water. Afterward, assume standing water hides debris, sewage, and downed lines.

Arizona washes

Monsoon storms drop a lot of water on a little ground. Dry washes, underpasses, and low dips on familiar roads flood fast, including miles downstream of the rain you can see. Do not camp, park, or walk in a wash when storms are in the forecast. A blue sky over your picnic does not mean the watershed upstream is quiet. NWS Phoenix is the forecast office for much of the state. Alerts belong on your phone before July, not during the first haboob.

• Have a go-bag if you live downstream of a wash or in a mapped floodplain.
• Flood insurance is separate from most homeowners policies. Buy it before the clouds, because policies often have a waiting period. Confirm the current rule with your agent and floodsmart.gov.
• Never let children play in irrigation ditches or floodwater.