The phone buzzed at 9:42 p.m. Flash Flood Warning for Lancaster County until 11:15 p.m. I was already in my slippers. My neighbor was on the balcony with a beer, laughing. I grabbed the keys and went downstairs. He said I was overreacting. By midnight his SUV was a paperweight in the underground garage. The photo he sent me the next morning was a water damage claim form with a totaled engine. That is the cost of waiting.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Should you move your car when a Flash Flood Warning is issued?
- A: Yes. Flash Flood Warnings mean flooding is imminent or occurring. Move vehicles out of underground garages and low-lying areas immediately to avoid water damage and engine loss.
- Q: Can an SUV be totaled by flood water in a garage?
- A: Yes. Even a few feet of water can hydrolock an engine and destroy electronics. Insurance often totals flooded vehicles and issues a water damage claim form.
- Q: How fast can flash flooding damage a parked car?
- A: Very fast. In this case damage occurred within about an hour, from warning at 9:42 p.m. to a submerged SUV by midnight.