Today is the final day of Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa and Friday’s topic is flooding.

Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf says flooding comes mainly from the river or a creek where lots of rainfall upstream will cause the river to steadily rise over time. He describes what is flash flooding.

“Flash flooding, that generally develops in six hours or so from an immediate cause. In other words, a heavy rain that has brought it up very quickly.”

Kempf points out another situation with flash flooding is water going over the roadway.    

“You get anywhere between 6-12 inches (of water over the roadway) it can sweep a vehicle away. Especially depending on how fast it’s moving. There’s a lot of times you can’t tell how fast the current is below the surface of that water. It may have washed a roadway out. You don’t know. Part of the roadway could be gone.”

Kempf reminds motorists that if you encounter water over the roadway and can’t tell how deep it is, it is better to “turn around, don’t drown.”