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notunek t1_j42cjvl wrote

It's a terrible tragedy but should have been preventable. In California we are constantly told not to enter floodwater on low points in roads. Yet every year, scores of people do it because they think it is shallow enough to get through.

And every year people get stuck in the middle and first responders or ordinary citizens have to risk their lives to rescue them which is the best outcome. Sometimes they get washed away and drown.

RIP, little one.

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HauntedButtCheeks t1_j42jdx3 wrote

This isn't what happened. They didn't choose to enter floodwater out of ignorance, they were in a car stuck in rapidly rising floodwater. They had to get out, the car was swept away and found upside down full of mud.

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notunek t1_j42o1i7 wrote

The news said a rural road with floodwater covering the low part. Her car got stuck in the water, she removed her boy from his carseat because she was afraid the car would be washed away. It was and the water swept him from her grasp.

Sadly it happens frequently in California because of flash floods that come suddenly and block roads. People think that they can get across the water and then get stalled, the water rises and if not rescued, away they go with the car.

The last one here was 4 women going out for a Saturday night card game with friends. Their SUV stalled and was washed away. They found it the next day and later their bodies.

It's not "nice" to say the truth, but it is vital that people heed the warnings we get before every storm about not entering water on a road. Every year the swift water rescue team has to risk their lives saving people that think it is safe.

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swampopossum t1_j44eyl9 wrote

Oh my God that's so sad and 100% preventable. I grew up along a creek that floods over the road just past our house about every other year. Despite signs and barriers people always try to get through. I don't know how many people we've told not to pass and they do it anyway. One time a family had two kids in the car and their car was washed off the road downstream into the field. My biggest fear is being in a car anywhere near floodwaters. Makes me wonder if we need to invest in a nationwide public safety program to get people to stay the fuck out of flooded roads. I hope the family at least is able to recover this boys body. I can't imagine what kind of guilt they're going through.

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RoxxieMuzic t1_j42dwdd wrote

Arizona as well, and yet....

So sad.

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JBreezy11 t1_j44v6px wrote

During monsoon season in AZ, those mass SMS texts tell you to not drive and stay home when the heavy rains come out of nowhere. Scary when you're already on the highway and the rains dump on you out of the blue.

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RoxxieMuzic t1_j44w6v9 wrote

Don't I know, but I made a note of the washes that were on my regular routes, including the two on my driveway that made the house unapproachable. I pulled off to a local coffee shop or other distraction until it was clear.

I will never forget the 4 or 5 children from one family that were lost in 2004 (may have been 2005), in New River. That one really broke my heart, it was totally unnecessary and avoidable.

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JBreezy11 t1_j4505ee wrote

sad af. RIP.

Every year I've been here during the season, there's always some poor families that get caught.

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noodles_the_strong t1_j4487dn wrote

I lived along the Mississippi N. Of St louis.. ankle deep moving water will take you off your feet. You stand very little.chance when caught in a flash flood

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