The tragic death of a man found in a vehicle submerged in floodwaters in Sonoma County last weekend makes it clear that it is never safe to drive in floodwaters.
A man was found Saturday in a submerged vehicle near Mays Canyon Road and State Highway 116, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more deaths occur each year from flooding than any other storm-related hazard, and more than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into dangerous floodwaters.
The next highest percentage of deaths from flooding is due to walking in or near floodwaters.
Many of the deaths occur in cars that are swept downstream, and many of these drownings are preventable.
According to the National Weather Service, motorists should never drive around the barriers blocking a flooded roadway because it could have collapsed under that water.
It only takes 12 inches of flowing water to carry away most cars, and just 2 feet of flowing water can carry away SUVs and trucks, the NWS explains.
