The power of flood waters can be awesome

Rampaging floodwaters can destroy buildings and bridges, dislodge boulders, and tear out trees.

Floodwaters can rise unexpectedly in minutes and pose serious risks to life and property, due to sudden and heavy rainfall, the failure of a dam or levee, or even the abrupt release of water when an ice jam or debris jam on a stream breaks up.

In flash floods, waters have been known to quickly rise as much as 30 feet, making flash floods the number one weather-related killer in the country.

People should never attempt to drive on flooded roadways. According to the National Weather Service, half of all deaths that occur during floods are vehicle-related.