Michigan State Police warned Lansing-area drivers Wednesday, Aug. 12, to stay out of floodwater on roads as rain is forecast throughout the week.

The department's message is blunt: more than half of all flood-related drownings happen when someone drives into floodwater, according to WILX.

Standing or moving, it doesn't matter. Both are dangerous, state police said.

The numbers are stark. Just one foot of fast-moving water can carry away most cars. Two feet can sweep away trucks and SUVs. Even shallow water moving quickly poses a serious hazard, the department said.

Turn around, don't drown

Michigan State Police are emphasizing the National Weather Service's long-running safety campaign: if you hit floodwater on the road, turn around.

The warning comes from MSP's Seventh District, which covers the greater Lansing area.

Six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock an adult off their feet, according to the National Weather Service. Nationally, flooding ranks as the second-deadliest weather-related hazard behind heat, killing more people each year than tornadoes, hurricanes or lightning.

The danger is not limited to obviously swollen rivers or creeks. Water pooling on a road after heavy rain can hide potholes, washed-out pavement or debris that can disable a vehicle and strand its occupants.

What drivers should do

State police advise anyone who encounters water covering a road to take a different route rather than attempt to cross. The depth of standing water is often impossible to judge from behind the wheel, and what looks like a few inches may be far deeper.

The warning applies through the week of Aug. 12–18 as rain continues in the forecast across the Lansing area.

Drivers who spot a flooded road or need to report an emergency can reach Michigan State Police at (855) 642-4847 or visit michigan.gov/msp for additional safety resources.