Anonymous
By the Office of Emergency Management
With heavy rains from recent storms, the creeks and rivers of Santa Barbara County are flowing at a high level. While our creeks often appear tranquil, they carry a deadly force. Don’t underestimate the power of moving water that can cause injuries and deaths. Be prepared and aware.
Moving water is deceptively strong and can easily overpower even strong swimmers. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind.
- Swift moving water is deceiving and relentless – just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you off your feet, and a depth of two feet will float your car.
- Never try to walk, swim or drive through swift water.
- Subsurface hazards can be deadly. Often, fast moving water is dirty with poor visibility. There’s no telling what lies beneath the surface, hazards that can injure or trap a person.
- Keep children from playing in fast moving water, not only in the area creeks and rivers, but also near culverts and storm drains.
- Do not attempt to drive over flooded water. STOP! Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
- If you do fall into swift moving water, position yourself on your back with your feet pointing downstream, head above water.
- Water temperatures are cold enough that after 4-5 minutes your hands stop working effectively. If you fall into water, try to get out as soon as possible to prevent hypothermia.
- Creeks and rivers are filled with rocks, many of which are very unstable with the recent high flow levels from the storms. Foot entrapments are a high hazard if feet are put down on unstable rocks in fast moving water. Do not stand in moving water above your knees.
The ground around our creeks and rivers are currently extremely saturated and unstable from recent storms. The banks may be undercut; they are more likely to give way should a person step to near the edge. This also pertains to trails high above the creeks, which might cause a hiker to fall down a steep section and into the water.
Be prepared and aware.
