By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The City of Tucson launched Operation Splash on the first day of monsoon to keep drivers safe on flooded roads.
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The city’s Department of Transportation and Mobility is monitoring weather around the clock and clearing heavy vegetation from washes to prevent debris from blocking flooded roads.
The National Weather Service forecasts a 33-50% chance of above normal precipitation for nearly all of Arizona.
Just 12 inches of rushing water can sweep a car off the road. Eighteen to 24 inches of water can displace larger sport utility vehicles, vans and trucks. The National Weather Service says vehicle-related drownings are the number one cause of flood deaths.
The Arizona Department of Health says flooding leads to an average of two to three deaths in the state each year, with the majority of these incidents occurring inside vehicles. The department says the geography of Arizona includes thousands of unbridged, low-water crossings that flood quickly during monsoons.
“It is hard to determine the depth of the water in the roadway as well as the condition of the road underneath,” said Rachel Hutchinson of the city’s Department of Transportation and Mobility.
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Tucson Fire and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department responded to at least 19 swift water rescues in a single weekend last year. Emergency responders emphasize avoiding familiar low-water routes during heavy rains and being vigilant of warning signs. The city is asking drivers to turn around if they encounter flooded roads and not to ignore “Flash Flood Area” signs.
Drivers should treat traffic signals that are out after a storm as a four-way stop. Residents who spot a downed tree should call 311 so crews can clear the roads.
When the first big storm is in the forecast, the city will put up barricades and open free sandbag stations at Hi Corbett Field.
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