Be Safe

6 important things drivers need to know about floodwaters

A scene from the Memorial Day floods in 2015.

Photo by Shelby Hodge

In the Houston area, you never know when or where a flash flood might strike. One of the dangers of being in a city where you are so reliant on your vehicle is the chance you might get caught in a storm.

The National Weather Service reports more deaths occur each year from flooding than any other thunderstorm-related hazard.

Here are some things you need to know about driving in floodwaters:

The threat to your safety is real
People don't often realize the power floodwaters really have. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said half of all flood-related drownings happen in cars.

A little water can do a lot of damage
You might think it would take massive amounts of water to move your vehicle, but as little as 12 inches can push your vehicle off a roadway.

Be careful if you have to get out
If you leave your vehicle and enter floodwaters on foot, be aware that just six inches could knock you off your feet and drag you away.

Barriers are there for a reason
Sadly, we've seen drivers go around traffic barriers only to end up losing their vehicles or even their lives. The risk is never worth bypassing road blocks.

Your vehicle is not worth your life
We have also seen moments where drivers fearing losing their vehicle get stuck in dangerous situations. If you sense you are becoming trapped, look for a high place to park your vehicle.

If you can safely exit the vehicle to avoid floodwaters, make a move quickly and take cover. Be aware of walking through high water.

If you see water, exercise caution
Four words we always say, but some people don't always heed: TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN. If you see water on the road, you never know how deep it could be, especially if it's dark. Don't risk driving through high water.

For more information check out this story from our news partners at ABC13 as well as this video:

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”