Officer Safety - Flash Floods

[HardKnocks]

Some people have never seen or experienced a Flash Flood Incident. Some Posters here respond frequently to the results of a Flash Flood.

Every year we get calls for Swift Water Rescues throughout Arizona, (including the Metro areas), as most people attempt to wade through or drive through rushing waters. It only take 1-2inches of free running waters to break the friction of a vehicle's tires from the roadway and wash it down stream.h

Flash Flood also follow Wildland Fires as the soil after a fire loses its ability to hold water and the water then runs off the soil unabated.

Here's a good example of a Flash Flood in a "Dry Creek" in Flagstaff Arizona that would surprise people on a hike and more than likely cause serious injury and possible drowning.

I'm posting this for the benefit of those who haven't seen this type of activity and, might be called to deploy to a Mutual-Aid Incident.

Flagstaff AZ Flash Flood July 2022

 

[johnrsemt]

You would think with all the news footage of cars getting washed down roads and off roads that people would get smart and not drive onto flooded roads, but they do it all the time and across the nation

 

[HardKnocks]

We have a "Stupid Motorist Law" here in AZ.

If a road is posted Closed for Flooding and someone ignores the posting and subsequently needs rescue, the person will be sent a bill for all expenses related to their rescue.