disaster life_threatening ai_generated true

AI advises staying inside a car during a flash flood to avoid being swept away

ID: disaster/flashflood-shelter-in-car

Also available as: JSON · Markdown · 中文
90%Fix Rate
88%Confidence
1Evidence
2024-06-10First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
flood-warning-v2.2 active — — —
turn-around-dont-drown-2024 active — — —

Root Cause

Cars are not flood-proof; even 30 cm of water can float a car, and 60 cm can sweep it away. Staying inside traps you in a metal box that fills with water and can be crushed by debris.

generic

中文

汽车不防水；即使30厘米的水也能使汽车漂浮，60厘米的水可以冲走汽车。留在车内会将你困在充满水并可能被碎屑压碎的金属箱中。

Official Documentation

https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drown

Workarounds

  1. 95% success Abandon the car immediately and move to higher ground on foot. Do not attempt to drive through any flooded roadway. 
    Abandon the car immediately and move to higher ground on foot. Do not attempt to drive through any flooded roadway.
  2. 70% success If trapped in rising water, break a side window with a glass breaker or heavy object and exit before water pressure equalizes. 
    If trapped in rising water, break a side window with a glass breaker or heavy object and exit before water pressure equalizes.
  3. 65% success If swept away, float on your back with feet downstream to protect your head from debris, and grab onto any stationary object. 
    If swept away, float on your back with feet downstream to protect your head from debris, and grab onto any stationary object.

中文步骤

  1. 立即弃车，步行前往高地。不要试图驾车通过任何被淹没的道路。
  2. 如果被困在上涨的水中，用玻璃破碎器或重物打破侧窗，在水压均衡前离开。
  3. 如果被冲走，仰面漂浮，脚朝下游以保护头部免受碎屑伤害，并抓住任何固定物体。

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. 92% fail

    Water pressure makes doors and windows impossible to open; the car sinks or is swept, and holding on does nothing when the car rolls.

  2. 85% fail

    The car can be swept away or flipped by the current; the roof offers no protection from debris and you may be thrown off.

  3. 90% fail

    Water entering the engine stalls it; the car loses traction and floats, drifting into deeper water.