If the water starts to rise and you're in your car, here's why you need to get out as quickly as possible, even if the current is scary.
95 municipalities were recognized as being in a state of natural disaster after the historic intense rains in Ardèche during the period from October 16 to 20, 2024, when six departments had switched to red alert in France. More than a week later, storm Dana hit Spain and completely disfigured the Valencia region. The latest death toll is 219, many people were surprised by the rising waters when they were in their car. Bodies continue to be found in vehicles six days later.
What are the right reflexes if you are in your vehicle and the water suddenly rises around you? Host Jamy Gourmaud put himself in a situation with a brigade of firefighters trained in water rescue. The first observation is simple: “staying in the passenger compartment is almost guaranteed death”.
“40 cm of water enough to carry a car”
The Planète Jamy show looked at what happens when a car is confronted with an increasingly strong torrent. The car which is “the most formidable trap in the event of flooding”. “Many motorists want to get behind the wheel at all costs and this is not a good idea, because 40 cm of water is enough to take away a car.”
As firefighters point out, the most important thing is to first stay calm if the water starts to rise. At this point in the video, the level passes the vehicle's wheels and continues to rise. Immediately, you must unfasten your seat belt and those of your passengers, then open the windows. If the system is electric, it is imperative to activate it quickly “before the system short-circuits” and it becomes impossible to open.
Water starts to enter the car. Opening the doors becomes very difficult in the face of the increasingly powerful current. The window then becomes the only exit here. “The safety instruction is to climb on the roof of the vehicle while waiting to be evacuated. Of course, it is not without risk”, testifies the host, who explains however that death is almost assured if you decide to stay indoors.
The right reflex if you are carried away by the current
“I didn't panic because there were firefighters around, so we're in a practice situation,” debriefs Jamy Gourmaud as he gets out of the water. “But imagine yourself in a situation where you are all alone… Besides, the weather is nice, but when there is storm, rain, gray sky, all that… I imagine that we are totally lost. Even then, we don't even dare to go out because we see the current.
And what happens if you get out of the car, but no one can come to help you? From the moment you can no longer resist the current, you must position yourself with your back to it and let yourself be carried away. “The instructions seem simple, but in practice, it is not easy, because naturally we tend to swim head first,” comments the host. “In this case, you have to do everything you can to put your feet forward.”
