Flash Flood Emergency vs Warning: what changes and when to leave

Warning and Emergency compared

A Flash Flood Warning means flash flooding is happening or expected imminently. Flooding can arrive rapidly, including downstream from rain that is not falling directly over you.

A Flash Flood Emergency is reserved for exceptionally dangerous flash flooding with an extreme threat to life and catastrophic damage. It emphasizes the severity of the situation within warning messaging. It does not mean ordinary Flash Flood Warnings are safe to ignore.

When should you leave?

Follow evacuation instructions from local officials immediately. Plan and leave early when directed, while safe routes remain open. If you are in a low-lying or flood-prone location under a Flash Flood Warning, get to higher ground without waiting for water to reach you.

Leaving does not mean driving through water. Never walk or drive into floodwater or around barricades. If floodwater blocks the route, do not try to force your way through. Move to the highest safe place available and call 911 if trapped.

When roads are already flooding, a late vehicle evacuation can create more danger. Read the warning’s locations and instructions, and follow local emergency guidance. At night, it is harder to judge where water covers a road.

Prepare before the next warning

Identify a safe route to higher ground and an alternative before heavy rain starts. Know which roads and low-water crossings flood near home, work and school. Arrange help for anyone who cannot move quickly.

Keep multiple alert methods working. A seasonal wet outlook or a flood watch is a reason to prepare; neither tells you the exact time water will rise. Use current NWS warnings and local instructions for immediate decisions.

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