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Officials Urge Motorists To Be Cautious Of Flooded Streets
For more than 20 consec- utive days, the Tampa Bay Area has been bombarded with heavy thunderstorms. The rains have resulted in flooding throughout counties in Central Florida.
Throughout the weekend, flood warnings have been in effect for Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Manatee counties. They have issued the following warnings about driving in inclement weather:
Car Shuts Down: In the event a vehicle shuts down while in standing water, do not try to restart it. Restarting a vehicle in standing water can cause more water to enter the engine and could cost thousands of dollars to repair.
Turn On Headlights:
Even if it is daylight, drivers should turn-on their head- lights when it is raining. This helps other motorists see you when visibility reduces from the rain.
Check Tires: Make sure tires are properly inflated and have enough tread depth. This will allow the vehicle to have better traction and maneuver- ability on the road. Worn tires with little tread are much more likely to hydroplane on wet pavement, resulting in a loss of braking power and steering control.
Avoid Cruise Control:
When used in wet conditions, the chance of losing control of the vehicle can increase.
Slow Down and Leave Room: Slowing down during
This photograph was taken over the weekend on Bayshore Blvd.
through it can cause a vehicle to stall and result in severe damage to the vehicle from: flooding the engine; warping brake rotors; loss of power steering; and short in electri- cal components.
Do NOT Drive with Hazard Lights On: This is a common error many drivers make while driving in the rain in an attempt to help be seen. However, hazard lights are supposed to be used by vehi- cles that are disabled on the side of the road. Turning on your hazards while driving can confuse approaching mo- torists and cause a crash.
Driving with your hazard lights on is actually illegal in some states, including Florida.
wet weather driving can be critical to reducing a car’s chance of hydroplaning, when the tires rise up on a layer of water. With as little as 1⁄2 inch of water on the road, tires have to displace a gallon of
water per second to keep the rubber meeting the road.
Avoid Standing Water and Flooded Roads at All Times: There is no way to tell how deep standing water is on a flooded road and driving
City’s Aging Storm System Exposed By Daily Storms
Inasmuch as the City of Tampa has been struggling to repair its aging stormwater drainage system, the recent daily thunder storms have put more stress on the system, and has caused flooding problems all over the city.
City of Tampa Emergency Coordinator, Chauncia Willis, said her office has been monitoring the situation and have prepared information for residents in flood prone areas that will help them protect their homes.
“In the areas of the city where there are retention ponds, the flooding hasn’t been a major problem.
“Areas in East Tampa known to have flooding prob- lems have been identified as:
Grant Park, West of 50th Street, South of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Palmetto Beach area, east of 20th Street, south of the Crosstown. The area is low and has potential of flooding during extreme high tides.
Adamo Drive and 50th Street, the intersection has the potential to flood during high tides and heavy rain.
Columbus Drive be- tween 40th Street and the I-4 ramp. This area should be avoided during ex- treme rain events.
East 7th Avenue and the railroad tracks area should be avoided during
CHAUNCIA WILLIS City of Tampa Emergency Coordinator
a major rain event; East Ellicott Street between 43rd and 47th Streets. The area ponds during heavy rain event.
If you live in a high flood
This is a scene of 30th Street just south of Hillsborough Avenue. This area has consistently been prone to flooding during heavy rains.
risk area, you have to take measures to protect your home against flood damage. Make sure to elevate the furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home. Also consider in- stalling check valves to prevent flood water from backing up into your drains. If possible, construct barriers to stop flood water from entering the build- ing. The city of Tampa makes sandbags available for city res- idents to pick up when there is potential for flood.
Also keep in mind that since standard homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover flood- ing, it’s important to have in- surance protection from the floods associated with hurri- canes, tropical storms, heavy rains, and other conditions.
During any heavy rainfall or severe weather event, the City of Tampa encourages the public to pay attention to traf- fic advisories, obey traffic signs/detours, and to exercise caution when driving in and round standing water.
Listen to area radio and tel- evision stations and be pre- pared to evacuate if necessary. Make sure to build an emer- gency kit to help you withstand a flood and ready to go in case you do need to leave our home.
During a flood, don’t drive through water because it’s dif- ficult to determine how deep the water is. Also, avoid driving unless necessary. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move
to higher ground. If your car is trapped in rapidly moving water, stay in the car. If the water is rising inside the vehi- cle, get on the roof of the car.
Treat non-functioning traf- fic signals as a 4-way stop. If you see a road closed, follow the detour signs. Also, avoid and owned or hanging power lines because they may be live.
Stay away from floodwa- ters. If you come upon a flow- ing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off of your feet.
Be aware of streams, rivers, creeks, drainage channels, and other areas known to flood suddenly.
If you need to evacuate, make sure to secure our home and move essential items to an upper floor. Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
After the flood, return home only when officials have declared the area safe. Before entering your home, look out- side for loose power lines, damaged gas lines, foundation cracks or other damage. Ap- proach entrances carefully. See if porch roofs and overhangs have all its supports. If you smell natural or propane gas or hear a hissing noise, leave im- mediately and call the fire de- partment.
PAGE 10 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015