Risk of flooding to your car and possibly your life

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – After demanding the return of much-needed rainfall, the Ozarks got too much of a good thing.

Rainfall totals over the weekend and today averaged three inches across the area, with some locations in the southern Ozarks reaching nine inches, the radar estimated. Increased rainfall overnight will continue the threat of flooding. Tim Fess, CEO of Rick’s Automotive, says this rain has his workers ready to fix cars damaged by flood waters.

“We’re usually a day or two behind a weather event like this,” Fess says. “Whether they’re being towed or rescued from a ditch or whatever, we usually get it a few days after the fact or after the event.”

Fess says it won’t take much water for cars to drive into it and pour water into the car’s front bumper. Depending on where the air intake is located on your car, this wave of water can damage the car’s electronics and especially the engine.

“If water gets into the cylinder where there would normally be air or a fuel-air mixture, something called water locking occurs,” Fess explains. “It can effectively bend the crankshaft or break the crankshaft and connecting rods. And, of course, this can cause internal engine damage.”

The risk of such severe damage could result in either thousands of dollars in repairs or the car being reclaimed by the insurance company. Not only does it only take 3-6 inches of rain to potentially cause problems for your vehicle, Battlefield Battalion Chief Tony Monnig says it’s enough to put your life at risk.

“In the right place and at the right speed, water can wash away a vehicle, especially in areas with low water levels,” Monnig says. “A lot of water actually creates a lot of force on the car very quickly.”

This force can also wash out roads and leave vehicles stuck in fast-moving water. If this ever happens, call 911 immediately and stay on the line. Some devices allow you to break windows and escape. Experts want you to thoroughly research these products. This is because many of them will only work with tempered glass and not the laminated glass that is used in the latest cars. You can tell if your car has laminated or tempered glass by looking at the label on the bottom of the window. If you are still unsure whether the product you are looking for works with tempered or laminated glass, contact the company that makes the product.

Even if you have these tools, and professionals have more powerful tools to handle any water rescue, both Fess and Monnig agree on a few foolproof ways to avoid flood risks altogether.

“We know the weather is changing,” Monnig says. “The safest thing you can do is stay home.”

“Turn around. Don’t drown,” says Fess. “That old saying is as true today as it was years ago.”

Once we get past the chance of rain on Monday evening, we will have plenty of dry time for the rest of the week to allow flood waters and flood risks to subside in the area.

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