You may believe that your vehicle is a safe haven during a flood, but think again. In the United States, excluding hurricanes, almost 60% of all flood-related fatalities occur inside vehicles. It only takes one foot (30 cm) of floodwater to wash your flooded car away into a larger, deeper body of water where you can drown. So, how can you get out of this situation?

First and foremost, you must respond swiftly. If your automobile is still operational, you should get it to higher ground as soon as possible. However, once your car has begun to flood, you must abandon it. Even 6 inches (15 cm) of water can cause catastrophic damage to a car.

If you notice your car sinking fast underwater, you have one minute to respond. This is where the S.W.O. protocol has to be applied: Seatbelts off, Window open (or broken), Out.

The protocol, developed by automotive safety specialist Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, is an important part of safely evacuating a vehicle in a flood. It entails taking off your seatbelt, opening or busting open your window, and exiting your vehicle.

What other survival skills do you require in the event of a flood? How can you avoid further mishaps, such as vehicle accidents? What more can you do to ensure you don’t get submerged in your car? What do you do if time is running out and you haven’t responded properly? We answer all these questions and more in our video.

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