During his 32-year career, Mr. Burttschell has found that people who stay with their cars survive at much higher rates than those who abandon them, simply because it’s easier for emergency services to spot a vehicle than a person. “I really don’t ever recommend leaving the vehicle,” he said. To make yourself more noticeable, you can also turn on your hazard lights, activate your car’s alarm with your key fob and, if possible, honk the horn.
If you’re walking, hiking or camping
If you happen to get caught in a flash flood while on foot, run perpendicular to the water and “get to the highest point possible,” Ms. Munger said — whether that means heading into the nearest building and racing up the stairs, climbing a tree or clambering onto a truck. The bigger and heavier the object, the better, she said, since it will be less likely to float away.
If you do get swept away, don’t attempt to stand up, as you risk trapping your foot in a drain, fence or other object. Instead, Ms. Munger advised swimming perpendicular to the current, as you would with a riptide, until you get to safety. Since you’ll be fighting against drainages, debris and the current, she warned this is extremely difficult, even for strong swimmers. “People need to realize that most people who lose their footing in a flash flood don’t get out,” she said.
As for camping or hiking, Ms. Munger advised researching the region’s weather patterns and forecast before setting out. If there might be a rainstorm upstream of your destination, she suggested camping above any rivers, rather than beside them. If water starts to rise where you are, head immediately to higher ground.
If you’re on the subway
The subway is “the last place you want to be” during a flash flood, Ms. Munger said. “Because eventually, if the storm drains are overwhelmed, there’s no other place for the water to go.” Your best defense, in other words, is to avoid it altogether.
If you do find yourself underground during a flood, Ms. Munger urged exiting the station as swiftly as possible — even if that means forcing your way up flooded stairs. If you’re on a train that is stuck, don’t leave it until you’re instructed to do so, said Eugene Resnick, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York.
Take flash floods seriously
While some of these steps may sound inconvenient, the reality is that following them could save your life. “You never want to be in a position where you’re looking back, or others are looking back, and saying: ‘Why didn’t you just heed simple advice?’” Dr. Markenson said.