Tips on Driving during Heavy Rain and Flash Flooding

Driving during heavy rain or flash flooding can be dangerous as dozens of motorists in Toms River found out last week after getting trapped in rising water when several inches of rain fell in a short period. 

Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, suggested what to do if your vehicle stalls.

"If you can't restart your vehicle and you become trapped in the rising water, try to immediately abandon it for higher ground."

He added, if you can't open the door or get out through a window, call 9-1-1 or try to get the attention of a passerby.

If you can't avoid driving through a puddle, test your brakes to make sure they're still functioning properly, as well as, "Avoid driving in water that you see any downed electrical or power lines that have fallen," said Poedubicky.

In addition, if you're having trouble seeing during bad weather conditions, pull off to the side of the road and wait it out until conditions improve.

More deaths occur from flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard, according to the National Weather Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAH).

Over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters.

The warning message from NOAH: "Turn around don't drown."