Avoid Flooded Roads

Turn Around, Don’t Drown!®

• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.

Look:

• If you cannot see the lines in the road, do not drive through the flood waters.
• If the water is muddy, do not drive through the flood waters.

Remember:

• Just 6 inches of moving water can is enough to knock you down.
• One foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
• Bridges are dangerous. Floodwaters can scour the foundations at the bottom of a bridge and make it unstable.
• There may be more rain upstream, so more water may be coming.

Be Safe:

• If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.
• If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car, and move to higher ground.
• Do not leave the car to enter moving water.
• If there is heavy rain in the forecast, do not camp or park along streams, rivers, and creeks. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning. If it starts to rain heavily, move immediately to higher ground.

Driving Precautions during Heavy Rain and Flooding

• Always use caution on roadways during periods of heavy rain: use headlights whenever you use windshield wipers, reduce speeds and maintain a safe travel distance between vehicles.
• Consider taking an alternate route to your destination that avoids bridge crossings, particularly low bridges, and other low areas prone to flooding.
• Know your location and do not become distracted while driving. If you need public safety assistance, you need to be able to provide your specific location.
• If you encounter high water, turn around, and drive to a safe spot. Call 311 to report the situation to emergency personnel.
• Never drive around a street barricade.
• If your vehicle is trapped in high water. Get out and go to higher ground if you can safely do so. Call 911 for rescue.
• Six inches of water can sweep a person off their feet.  Rocks, tree limbs, and other debris can get caught in moving water and become dangerous to you when walking, moving, or swimming through flood waters.
• If you have to walk or move through flood water, use a stick to poke the ground in front of you to determine the depth and if there’s any underwater debris.

For emergencies, call 911 immediately. For information about County programs and services, call 311 Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm, or go anytime to the call center’s online portal. The hours at the MC311 call center will be extended if weather conditions warrant.

To stay informed during a severe weather event, major crisis or other type of emergency, sign up for the County's Alert Montgomery emergency warning system.

County roads and high water

These are some of the roads in Montgomery County that are known to flood during rain events. This is not meant to be a complete list. All motorists should remain cautious when driving.

If you approach a flooded road, Turn Around, Don’t Drown®. Check out a map of frequently flooded roads.