How much damage do you think ?

[snopony]

I quite often wonder when there are severe flooding events about all the undiscovered barn finds out there.....or the classics.....gonski.

[usernametaken]

You don't get caught in flash flooding if you are paying attention to the conditions, (especially on a route you take every day).

Simple.

[Ford17]

Hopefully all have noticed the recent weather conditions where the OP hails from.
At least one entire home was washed away in the Hunter Valley region.
Not just houses and cars affected though, but people have died, and animals have perished as well.
Let's hope insurance companies come good and honour their agreements.

[PG2]

I probably can comment - I live in the area and experienced this storm first hand.

That picture the OP put up is AFTER she got out of the car. Knowing how the storm was I can safely assume that the water was not that deep when she drove into to it. The water rose that quickly it was unbelievable. No, I have never lost a car in a flood.

She says that the water level in the picture was only like that for about an hour.

Back to her question though - as everyone has said don't even entertain the thought of getting the car back even the insurance company offers to fix it for you.

[usernametaken]

mate, she had to get out of the window - it was way too high to drive into if that was the case.

[PG2]

How long was she in the car for before she got out? The car didn't stop and she immediately got out - she said that someone had to come and help her.

Some of these streets flooded in 10 minutes. The area got 400mm of rain. Some streets are still full of water. One developed suburb is still cut off and they sending supplies to them by boat.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by usernametaken

You don't get caught in flash flooding if you are paying attention to the conditions, (especially on a route you take every day).

Simple.

I'm guessing that you've been these (flood) situations before then ?

[usernametaken]

I work in emergency services.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by usernametaken

I work in emergency services.

Not exactly answering the question though

[usernametaken]

Perhaps if you added a preposition to you original question?

And i dont really owe you any sort of justification for my comments.

This whole forum is built on 'opinions'

Look at the whole Ford vs. Holden argument for example...

Regardless, common sense dictates you don't drive into rising flood waters.

My 'opinion' is based on years of operational work in emergency services.

What's your 'opinion' based on questioning it?
:-)

[lisa1760]

OK - when I started thru the water on a flat street with a little bit of a dip it was just above the bottom of the rim - I was driving about 20 ks a 4x4 came screaming thru from opposite direction which caused a wave of water to to hit me & my car just stopped dead - in the 10 minutes I sat there till I got out that is how fast the water rose - I'm not an idiot female driver - & the same 4x4 driver came back & did the same going back home I guess causing a larger wave to swamp & really **** off the SES guys that were helping me

[lisa1760]

This was the car in front of me & how deep the water was when I started thru it

[uniacidz]

Originally Posted by lisa1760

OK - when I started thru the water on a flat street with a little bit of a dip it was just above the bottom of the rim - I was driving about 20 ks a 4x4 came screaming thru from opposite direction which caused a wave of water to to hit me & my car just stopped dead - in the 10 minutes I sat there till I got out that is how fast the water rose - I'm not an idiot female driver - & the same 4x4 driver came back & did the same going back home I guess causing a larger wave to swamp & really **** off the SES guys that were helping me

Happened to me in the august / September Sydney flash flood storms last year.

Whilst 4x4 can handle the water, their actions towards other motorists is appalling in treacherous conditions

Actually word 'assholes' was said numerous times.

Sorry for your loss

Cos of that moron, you have to get a new car






Sent via HTC Velocity + [HolicsROM v1.3] [SWEEP2WAKE]

[SensationFG8]

Username taken, as an emergency service worker you of all people should realise people are hit by things they can't control. Your attitude is appalling, just my opinion.

I've spent my whole life around emergency services both actively and passively if you want to pull that card, only a very special few like to rub tragedy in the victims face with statements like the ones you're making. Congratulations.

[usernametaken]

Not sure how I'm rubbing anything in anyone's face.

Perhaps, you need to tone down the fake outrage.

The OP doesn't seem too fussed.

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by SensationFG8

Your attitude is appalling, just my opinion.

Not just your opinion.

[mik]

That's a shame, but you got out ok, that's the main thing.
I would be hoping that insurance does the right thing and coughs up, as others have said, I wouldn't like to be stuck with a car that's been in floods...... fresh water or salt, because you can bet your bottom dollar even if they spend a lot of coin trying to fix things up, there's a very big chance it may end up a major head headache down the track.

[Brazen]

In the article I linked on the first page of this thread where the lady is being swept away you can see the ridiculous bow wave of the 4wd coming from the opposite direction.

Would love to see insurance companies pursue these idiots to prove a point.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Brazen

In the article I linked on the first page of this thread where the lady is being swept away you can see the ridiculous bow wave of the 4wd coming from the opposite direction.

Would love to see insurance companies pursue these idiots to prove a point.

This does raise a good point. It may be too late for Lisa but I would read the wording of the PDS carefully and not answer questions on the spot as the fact the car was immobilised due to the actions of another may change things.

Flooding seems to be a grey area depending on where the water came from....

[Madaya]

...and when disaster stops a 4 wheel drive, its all over red rover and you will be extremely lucky to get out alive. They can drive you deeper into the ****.

[martyal44]

To the OP, hope you're OK and be glad you're safe as that area copped it very badly. Please keep us up to date on your insurance progress as well.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by usernametaken

And i dont really owe you any sort of justification for my comments.

This whole forum is built on 'opinions'

Look at the whole Ford vs. Holden argument for example...

Regardless, common sense dictates you don't drive into rising flood waters.

My 'opinion' is based on years of operational work in emergency services.

What's your 'opinion' based on questioning it?
:-)

Of course you don't owe me anything, but as far as any of us know you could be a 15yo schoolkid.

Which division of Emergency services and where?

My opinion is based on 43 years of Interstate driving, a lot of them around and through floodwater.

[loony888]

Originally Posted by usernametaken

Not sure how I'm rubbing anything in anyone's face.

Perhaps, you need to tone down the fake outrage.

The OP doesn't seem too fussed.

yep, i reckon lisa is dealing with your remarks very well, her explanation seems fair enough to me, but even if it didn't who are we to judge? you say you're in emergency services? if you are i'm sure you have seen plenty of instances where people get caught in situations through no fault of their own, and plenty where stupidity has put them, and their rescuer in harms way, that's life.

If you don't like it you could get a job where your critical unfounded (because you weren't actually there, were you?) opinions might be of some use to someone.

but so far you're being a dick

[lisa1760]

Originally Posted by martyal44

To the OP, hope you're OK and be glad you're safe as that area copped it very badly. Please keep us up to date on your insurance progress as well.

I don't know if I've made a mistake or not but when I rang Allianz I told them exactly what happened - the woman was very helpful, told me of things I had on my policy that I had forgotten - use of a hire car (which I pick up tomorrow) asked about any other damages to items in my car & myself & that I won't be losing my no claim bonus - unlike a work mates partner whose Insurance Company has accused him of "on purposely driving into the flood water". My car will be assessed on the 30th so will let you know how it all goes

[lisa1760]

Originally Posted by usernametaken

Not sure how I'm rubbing anything in anyone's face.

Perhaps, you need to tone down the fake outrage.

The OP doesn't seem too fussed.

Actually, I was fairly offended by your "assuming remarks" but the language I wanted to use at you I thought might get me kicked off FF's & to me you aren't worth that as I've used lots of information I've found on here when I've worked on my cars

[xxx000]

best of luck with everything, I'm sure it'll work out o.k.

[dave351cid]

glad you got out ok Lisa. sounds like you did the right thing by telling the insurance comp the full story. they can see it wasn't your fault that the car got flooded. shame that you didn't get the rego of the 4x4 then they could have made him pay.

flood water can rise very quick . a few years ago I was on the road in the work landcruiser ute and came to a spot where the water was over the road. the local cop was parked on the other side and he walked through the water with it barely coming over his feet. we spoke for a few minutes and as I put the ute into gear to drive through there was a wall of water atleast a metre deep came across the road carrying logs and fences. if I had taken off a few seconds earlier I would have been right in the middle and washed off the road. next morning when we went back there was no road left.

[Nanoraptor]

Looks like it's not relevant to Lisa's situation, where the car was stopped not directly by the water depth at the time of driving, but flash floods can hit fast. Sometimes, you just don't have time.

Before a flash flood - caught in time because of rural visibility:


And then ten *seconds* after. Not minutes, seconds.


That's from this video of a flash flood hitting a small crossing. Ten seconds might have been generous, under five and the road's gone from visibly fine to drive through, to deadly.

Bit more complex in a city with far less long distance visibility and the complexity of drainage. One blocked drain in the wrong place can change things completely - for a while we had an often-blocked drain that let floodwaters from up the hill in Bathurst flood a couple of km downhill and then fire upwards on a busy corner, and flood a couple of blocks below.

And then there's things like this that could catch people repeatedly, and this violent under-car wash

[aussiblue]

Just a tip if you get caught like this ( and the water is not too deep and the current too strong) you can sometimes slowly get it the rest of the way or reverse out on the starter motor; if it's an auto in D or R (depending what dry land is closest) and just keep pulsing the starter motor with a few second between each key on to allow it to cool. Not good at all for the starter motor, battery or ring gear and may not work on all cars but worth a try in those sort of emergency circumstances and having to get a new starter motor might be a better outcome. For a manual usually 3rd or 4th gear (what is closest to 1:1 ratio) or reverse.

Off course you have to do some quick risk assessment; it might be best to evacuate while you can especially if you have kids or aged or infirm passengers and the water is rising quickly or the flooded area is very wide.

And flash floods can spring unexpected surprises so I don't think we can blame the OP or accuse her of being careless. Many years ago in the south west of WA (where flash floods are uncommon) I was driving solo on a back road in a work XE or XD Falcon through water probably six to 10 inches deep. I had walked it first; along the road crown to keep my feet dry. I was half way across when I was hit by a wave of water about 4 feet deep that pushed the back of the car to the right and killed the motor. I was less than a metre from the other side and the water subsided to about 20 inches after the initial wave so I made it on the starter motor but it gave me a fright. I guess if it hadn't been raining heavily I might have heard it coming while I was waking the crown (or perhaps a farm dam or natural dam form by fallen trees had just burst a little ways upstream). Twenty minutes later after I had got going again the ABC radio came out with a flash flood warning for the area.

Although it was an isolated area it was only a small creek in Jarrah forest so I don't think the car would have gone far even if it had been washed all the way off the road so I would have survived and car could have been recovered; still put me in shock for a few minutes after I got back on the dry side and looked back at the creek slowly rising again.

I also learned that when you have nothing else, Brut deodorant spray seemed to work as a dewatering agent, albeit not totally effective, in emergencies when sprayed into the distributor cap and on the HT leads and dried off with tissues; well it got me going with the engine missing at low speeds until I got to a servo, shelter and WD40.

[aussiblue]

,, and I have to thank the old WA public service requirements of the early 70's that meant you had to go on a special driver training course and past test before you drive a Government car in the country; as part of that training they embedded the starter motor trick in my head. That requirement was dropped just after I did my test in late 1971 I think.