Kansas City’s roads have flooded in recent storms: What to do if you get stuck
The pattern of heavy rain in the Kansas City area continued this past week, leading to flooding in parts of the city and drivers stranded in their vehicles while the weather cleared up.
A section of Interstate 70 near downtown, Indian Creek and East 23rd Trafficway, near Interstate 435, flooded and stranded cars. Severe weather led to one person dying after their vehicle crashed into a concrete post supporting an overhead highway sign on Interstate 35 late Thursday, June 23, in Johnson County.
If you’re in the middle of the highway on your way home and it starts to flood, should you wait it out until the rain stops? Is it safe to drive on the highway?
Here are a few tips from the Missouri Department of Transportation on what to do if you’re on the road during a flash flood.
Flash flood tips from MoDOT
City and state officials said there are a couple of factors at play in regard to the recent flooding, like the amount of rainfall Kansas City has had this year and blocked sewer grates preventing the water from draining.
Greg Bolon, district engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Kansas City district, said drivers should proceed with caution if flash floods are happening.
“When you see it slow down in it,” Bolon said. “Depending on how new your tires are, it doesn’t take a whole lot of water for you to hydroplane.”
If you’re going fast enough and you don’t have enough tread on your tires, you can lose control of your car and hydroplane, which happens when car tires lose contact with the road surface due to the water. It only takes 1-2 feet of water to sweep your car away, according to MoDOT.
Bolon said that if you are going into the water, you should slow down and take your foot off the gas. Don’t do any sudden movements and don’t press your foot on the brake, either.
He recommends that if you see the water, you shouldn’t go through it because you don’t know how deep it is.
Bolon also warned drivers about the difference between backwater flooding upstream and rushing water. If you’ve got rushing water over a roadway, sometimes that can tear away pavement. He said backwater could damage the pavement if it’s deep enough, and that either form could get in your engine and damage your car.
“I always try to avoid driving through water as much as I possibly can, unless you know for sure how deep it is,” Bolon said.
MoDOT’s flood safety website also offers these tips for drivers:
- Do not walk or drive through water covered or flooded roadways, and be aware of rising, swift-moving water.
- If you wind up in flood water and your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and look for higher ground. You can get swept away with the rising water.
- Drivers shouldn’t expect barriers to block off flooded low-water crossings or bridges. Floodwaters can rise so quickly that local and state authorities can’t close the roads in time.
- Avoid flooded areas and turn around if you see an area is flooded.
The Kansas City area had more than 3.5 inches of rain this week, which is close to the total normal amount the city sees for the entire month of April, according to the National Weather Service in Kansas City. Bolon said he believes the city has recorded over 10 inches of rain in just this month alone.
