💧 When Roads Turn to Rivers: What a Flash Flood Warning Really Means

You’re driving home. It’s barely raining. Minutes later, your street disappears under water. What happened?

Flash floods strike with terrifying speed—and a flash flood warning is your last chance to act. Unlike a watch, which means “conditions are favorable,” a warning is a red alert: flooding is either happening or seconds away.

🚨 What to do immediately:

• Don’t drive: Just 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock over an adult. A foot can sweep your car away.
• Head to high ground: Don’t wait. Flash floods can surge through low-lying areas in under 10 minutes.
• Listen to alerts: Weather radios and FEMA text alerts save lives when cell towers go down.

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📍 Real-world urgency: In Arkansas, a 2024 storm flooded a campground in under 15 minutes, killing 20. Most victims didn’t hear or understand the warning in time.

“People don’t realize how fast it comes. It’s not like a slow-rise flood—it’s a wall.” — FEMA official

✅ Takeaway: A warning isn’t just a notification. It’s your final heads-up. Treat it like an air raid siren—because in many ways, it is.