Heavy rains battered Sullivan County on Tuesday, causing flash floods in many parts of our region (see page 1A).

We’ve said it before but it deserves to be said again and again. We are consistently inspired by our firefighters, ambulance crews, police and all emergency responders who put their own lives at risk to help save others. Whether they’re volunteers or career members, these men and women go above and beyond in times of crisis to serve those in need.

Residents in Sullivan County are no strangers to flooding, and we will always join together as a community to assist those in need or recovering as a result of extreme weather.

Tuesday’s dangerous weather conditions knocked over trees and flooded roads, turning a daily commute home into a treacherous journey for many.

Whenever such weather occurs, we often notice motorists attempting to drive through these pools of water that have washed over roads.

We understand people need to get where they're going, but the 10 or 20 minutes you save by driving through a flooded road is not worth the potential damage to your vehicle or even the loss of your life. Turn around, don't drown and find another route.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters.

People underestimate the force and power of water. As little as six inches of fast moving water can knock a grown adult off their feet. It takes only 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and two feet of rushing water can carry away most trucks and SUVs.

It may look like the water on the road isn't that deep, but it's far too easy to underestimate its depth or strength. This is especially true at night when your vision is limited. Furthermore, the road can be washed out underneath the flood waters and you might not be able to see the condition of the road beneath the water.
We are very happy and relieved to hear that nobody was killed or injured as a result of Tuesday’s weather conditions. That’s what we should always strive for.

As we’ve said before, any death is a tragedy, but even more so when it can be easily prevented.