One dead as rains pummel Northern California. How do you escape a submerged car?
One person was killed during flash flooding in Redding on Sunday night as emergency responders conducted water rescues and major roadways were closed throughout Northern California during the first of back-to-back severe storms.
Flooding can leave drivers — and their vehicles — stranded.
Up to 400 people die in submerged vehicles each year in North America, accounting for 10% of all drownings, according to a study by the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, in Canada.
What should you do if your car becomes suddenly submerged in water?
Here are some steps you can take to survive:
What should I do if the road is flooded?
According to the National Weather Service, you should “never try to walk, swim or drive” through swift-moving water.
“A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks,” the National Weather Service said.
It’s also critical to follow road closure signs.
“Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas,” the weather service said. “Most deaths occur in flooded vehicles.”
My car is submerged in water. What should I do?
If you find yourself suddenly surrounded by water, don’t panic, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
“As soon as you hit the water, open your window,” the Arizona police agency said. “This is your best chance of escape.”
“It’s absolutely critical that when the vehicle enters the water, the very first thing you need to do is to disengage your seat belt, open your windows and then get out as soon as you can,” Gerry Dworkin, a technical consultant for safety training company Lifesaving Resources, told NPR in 2024.
“The vehicle’s only going to float on the surface of the water for seconds to several minutes,” Dworkin said, so you have limited time to get out safely.
Kids and Cars Safety, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to “saving the lives of children and pets in and around vehicles,” said you should follow these steps as quickly as possible, using the acronym SWOC as a reminder:
- Seatbelt off
- Window open
- Out immediately
- Children first, oldest to youngest
What if my car window won’t open?
If your car windows aren’t working, or you can’t roll them down completely, try to break the glass with your “foot, shoulder or a heavy object” such as a flashlight, the Phoenix Police Department said.
In some cases, your car windows may have laminated glass instead of the more traditional tempered glass. Laminated glass is designed to prevent passenger ejections and can be harder to break through.
“If a window will not open, you will need to wait until the car fills with water before you can open the door,” the agency said.
However, do not wait for your vehicle to fully sink, according to Kids and Cars Safety.
“If you wait, your car becomes a coffin,” the organization said.
Once you’re out, climb on top of your car, “call 911 and determine if there is a path to safety and higher ground,” Kids and Cars Safety said. “Waiting for help on top of the car might be your safest option.”
What not to do if your car gets trapped
While it may be your first instinct, don’t reach for your phone.
Doing anything besides escaping from the car wastes time that you don’t have, according to Kids and Car Safety.
This story was originally published December 22, 2025 at 4:32 PM with the headline "One dead as rains pummel Northern California. How do you escape a submerged car?."
