Driving through floodwaters can be fatal. What to do if you find a flooded street in the Midlands

Many parts of Columbia are known for flooding during heavy rain events. As Hurricane Ian approaches South Carolina and then moves toward the Midlands, Columbia is expected to get up to 6 inches of rain. Wind gusts up to 60 mph are also likely.

Much of the Midlands, including Richland and Lexington counties, are under a flood watch until Saturday morning.

Public safety officials are urging people to avoid travel Friday. If you must venture out, here’s what you should know to stay safe.

First and foremost, do not drive through floodwaters, even if the water does not look deep. If a road is flooded, turn around and find an alternate route.

“It takes just 12 inches of flowing water to carry off a small car, (and) 18 to 24 inches for larger vehicles,” the National Weather Service warns.

The water may also be hiding washed-out road surfaces, electrical wires, debris or other dangerous objects.

More than half of all flooding deaths nationally occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water, according to the weather service.

If you’re on foot, you should also avoid flood waters, the weather service adds. Six inches of fast-moving floodwater can knock an adult down. Floodwaters may also contain downed power lines that could still electrocute a person.

These are the intersections that are most flood-prone in Columbia:

You can also review this interactive map to see the most flood-prone intersections in Columbia:

The Columbia Police Department and the Columbia Fire Department urge residents to avoid these intersections during the storm Friday.

The Columbia Police Department also notes that heavy rain and wind could impact traffic signals. If signals aren’t operational, the intersection should be treated as a four-way stop.