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Prepping for a flood (Part 6): In the water

By The SHTF App Team

According to the CDC, over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous floodwater. The second most common cause is walking into or near water. The CDC’s number on this is the one that rearranges how you think about flooded roads: over half of all flood-related drownings happen when someone drives a vehicle into hazardous floodwater. Not swimmers, not kayakers. Drivers, people who were mostly dry four seconds earlier. The second most common cause is walking into or near water.

The physics explains why smart people do it. A 3,000-pound vehicle can be turned into a boat by just 12 inches of moving water, and 2 feet will sweep away even a large SUV or pickup. From the driver’s seat, 12 inches looks like nothing. Once you lose traction, you are a passenger in a violent ride, and survival in those moments is counter-intuitive. Your instinct is to stay in the dry car, or open the door, or climb into the attic to stay dry. Each of those instincts can kill you.

This is Part 6 of the flood series, covering the worst-case scenario: the water has you. There is a script for that, both in the car and in the house, and it works because it was written before the panic arrived.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as, and should not be considered, professional or emergency-response advice. Always follow the instructions of local authorities during an active flood event.

The Readiness Audit

If your car stalled in rising water right now, what is your first move?

  • Green: You have a spring-loaded glass breaker within reach (center console or keychain). You know the seatbelt, window, out sequence.
  • Yellow: You have a tool, but it is in the glove box (which might be hard to reach) or trunk. You assume your big SUV can handle “a little water.”
  • Red: You plan to open the door to get out, or call 911 while sitting in the trapped car.

If you are Yellow or Red, memorize Phase 1 immediately.

Phase 1: The Vehicle Escape (S.W.O. Protocol)

Goal: Exit the vehicle before it sinks or is swept away.

The Physics of the Trap

  • 6 inches: Loss of control and stalling.
  • 12 inches: Most cars will float.
  • 2 feet: Rushing water will sweep away even large SUVs and pickups.
  • The Invisible Danger: The roadbed under the water may have washed away completely. You are not driving on asphalt, you are driving into a sinkhole.

The Protocol: S.W.O. (Seatbelt, Window, Out)

If your vehicle stalls in water, do not panic. You have about 30 to 60 seconds of float time before the car begins to submerge.

  • S, Seatbelt: Unbuckle immediately. If you have kids, unbuckle them next.
  • W, Window: Open the window. Electric windows usually work for a minute even in water, so try the button first. If the button fails, use a glass breaker tool and strike the corner of the side window (the weakest point), not the center. This does not work on laminated windshields, only tempered side glass.
  • O, Out: Climb out the window. Do not try the door: the water pressure against it is thousands of pounds, and you cannot open it until the car is filled and pressure equalizes, which requires waiting until you are drowning. Kids go out first, pushed to the roof or higher ground.

The Takeaway: Seatbelt, window, out, in that order, in the first minute. The door is not an exit until it is far too late to be one.

Phase 2: Structural Entrapment (The Attic Rule)

Goal: Vertical evacuation without becoming trapped.

If your home floods rapidly, you must move up, and the way you move up decides whether you live there or not.

  • The Danger: The water rises higher than expected. People retreat to the attic to stay dry. The water reaches the roofline. They are now trapped in a confined space with rising water and no exit. This is a common cause of death in major hurricanes.
  • The Rule: Do not enter a closed attic unless you have a way out.
  • The Fix: Take a heavy tool (fire axe, sledgehammer, or saw) with you to cut through the roof. Better yet, go to a balcony or a window that opens onto a roof section outside the structure.

The Takeaway: Up is not automatically safe. Up with an exit is safe.

Phase 3: Moving Water Hazards (The Invisible Current)

Goal: Navigate the water without getting swept away or electrocuted.

Electrical Charge

  • The Threat: Stray voltage. Downed power lines or submerged underground boxes can electrify the water. There is no warning sign.
  • The Sign: If you step in water and feel a tingling sensation, stop. Do not move forward. Shuffle-step backward or hop back on one foot to break the circuit.

Debris and Bacteria

  • The Threat: Floodwater is a toxic slurry of sewage, chemicals, and sharp debris (glass, metal).
  • The Fix: Never walk barefoot. Wear sturdy boots. If you have an open wound exposed to floodwater, clean it immediately to prevent sepsis.

The Takeaway: Floodwater hides two killers that look like nothing at all: electricity you cannot see, and bacteria you cannot smell. Boots and shuffle-steps are the countermeasures.

The Essential Kit Checklist

  • The Rescue Tool: A spring-loaded glass breaker and seatbelt cutter attached to the rearview mirror or gear shift of every car.
  • The Axe: A heavy tool stored on the top floor of your home (for roof egress).
  • The Flotation: Life jackets (PFDs) stored in an accessible closet, not the basement.
  • The Footwear: Sturdy boots kept by the bed or in the go-bag.

Scenario Planner (Contingencies)

“I have a baby in a car seat and the car is sinking.” The trap: trying to get the car seat out. The fix: leave the seat. Follow S.W.O. Unbuckle yourself, climb into the back, unbuckle the child from the harness, leave the bulky car seat behind, push the child out the window to the roof of the car, then follow.

“The car is sinking nose-first.” The trap: the engine weight pulls the front down. The fix: move to the back. The air pocket will migrate to the highest point (usually the rear window or trunk area). Move there to breathe while you work on breaking the rear side windows.

Next Steps

  1. Buy the breaker tool today and mount it where your hand already rests. Rearview mirror or gear shift, not the glovebox, not the trunk.
  2. Teach the whole household S.W.O. out loud. Seatbelt, window, out. If the kids can say it back to you, the script will hold when you cannot think.
  3. Read Part 7: Safe re-entry next, because surviving the water is only half the story, and the house you come back to has its own hazards.

Originally adapted from public CDC and NWS flood safety guidance (public domain).