PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Pennsylvania Emergency Management (PEMA) says flooding is the state's number one weather hazard. That is why an entire week is dedicated to flood safety awareness.
"Turn around, don't drown." It might sound like a cliché, but it is the theme of the week for meteorologists with the National Weather Service.
They say it only takes about six inches of water to knock you down. About a foot of water will float most vehicles, and two feet of water can carry cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks away.
"Also, there's no way to see if the road still exists underneath the flooded water, usually because it's typically muddy and full of debris," said National Weather Service Hydrologist Jim Brewster.
There are two main types of flooding: river flooding and flash flooding.
River flooding is longer-term and happens gradually over several hours or even during the span of several rain events.
"If the rain is up here in New York which frequently it is, we send it down, there is a travel time. So, the river, say the Susquehanna in Wilkes-Barre, will be more of a slower rise and there is a little bit more time to prepare. But the flash flooding is the one mechanism that you have to react to very quickly," Brewster said.
Flash flooding is caused by torrential downpours over a very short time. That is more common during summertime thunderstorms. We saw devastating flash flooding last September.
On Saturday, September 9, heavy rain from severe storms prompted several flash flood warnings. Nearly two dozen roads in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties were closed due to flooding and damage.
Several homes and businesses struggled with major loss and damage, too. Dozens of people were trapped in their cars on Northern Boulevard in South Abington Township that night, and for days, we heard countless rescue stories.
Two people died as a result of the flash flooding. The Clarks Summit area was hardest hit, recording more than 4 inches of rain in just a few hours that day.
"You put a lot of water on a steep slope, it's going to run downhill very fast. You want to start off your day being cognizant of the weather that's coming on but also pay attention to any warnings that are issued," Brewster said.
Meteorologists say summertime thunderstorms that lead to flash flooding often occur even when it is nice and sunny earlier in the day. That is why it is so important to keep an eye on weather alerts, watches, and warnings.
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