| Floods can be deceptive, dangerous and deadly. When | | | | impossible. All these events, when taken as a whole, |
| driving in floods, extreme caution is needed. Flooding is | | | | lead to urban flooding. |
| normally rapid and often occur with very little prior | | | | Flash flooding. This situation occurs when a sudden |
| warning. If it is possible to avoid a journey then do so. | | | | downpour of rain is channelled rapidly into a given area |
| The best advice is - common sense must prevail. | | | | where no instant outlet is available. These situations |
| Floods can occur at any time of the year, no matter | | | | are difficult to avoid. From experience, one of the |
| what the season. Driving in these conditions is | | | | worst places to be is at the bottom of a hill with a |
| therefore likely to be more dangerous than driving in | | | | torrent of water gushing towards you. |
| snow or fog. None are recommended. | | | | The best advice is if you must drive, then drive with |
| In today's modern world, floods are now more likely to | | | | extreme caution. If you can, stay at home and protect |
| form because of increased development on flood | | | | your house! |
| plains, which have always been there for a purpose - | | | | One unfortunate by-product of flooding is the sale of |
| to ease flooding. When these are built over their | | | | flood damaged cars. How can you tell if a car has |
| reason and purpose is erased, but unfortunately the | | | | sustained damage in a flood? There are several |
| water still gravitates to these areas regardless of | | | | obvious signs to look for. |
| what planners and builders had in mind. The city of Hull | | | | Amongst these are: |
| is mostly built on a flood plain. | | | | - If there is debris or grass under the frame or |
| When a large amount of rain falls over a short period | | | | - Around the suspension or in or around the radiator, or |
| of time, the likelihood of ditches, rivers and lakes | | | | - Waterlines in door pockets, interior trim, and the boot |
| becoming filled with water and overflowing into | | | | and even |
| low-lying or poorly drained areas is increased. | | | | - In the engine compartment. |
| The main types of flooding are River floods. These | | | | There may also be signs of rust on the inside of the |
| occur when the volume of water rapidly increases and | | | | vehicle, such as: |
| the channels cannot cope and overflow. The addition | | | | - On the bolts of the seat-belt anchor, |
| of floating, broken branches and other debris (even | | | | - Wires may be corroded, |
| abandoned cars) make the situation worse by | | | | - The terminals may have a chalky white or green |
| impeding the flow of rushing water. | | | | substance apparent, or worse still |
| The next is Coastal flooding which occurs when | | | | - There may be rust apparent. |
| coastal areas of land become inundated with sea | | | | A wise move would be to check the registration of |
| water either through lack of or inadequate sea | | | | the car for previous damage reports. This can now be |
| defences. Both can be deadly. | | | | done on-line. You may not live in a recently flooded |
| Urban flooding is now on the increase because of the | | | | area, but cars will still mysteriously appear when the |
| flood plains being built on and an increased area being | | | | owner wants to off-load his vehicle on an |
| concreted or covered in tarmac. In many cases little | | | | unsuspecting buyer. |
| thought appears to have been given to this yearly | | | | One of the surest ways of avoiding being 'caught' with |
| event of rain in large amounts. In addition, many houses | | | | a flood-damaged vehicle is not to buy from a |
| now have decked areas in the back gardens and the | | | | newspaper advert or someone that is not known to |
| front gardens have been concreted to prove hard | | | | you. Instead, pick a reputable dealer in your area that |
| standing for the car. Where water was able to soak | | | | you know and can trust and who has a good |
| into the land and drain away, this is now becoming | | | | reputation to defend. |