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Dramatic Charlotte Storm Rescue Serves As A Good Reminder — Your Car Is Not A Boat

Author Phil Harris
The rain storm on January 9, 2023 brought widespread flooding to the Charlotte area. (Photo by Mijau/iStock via Getty Images)

Turn around, don’t drown, your car is not a boat! No matter how often that message is conveyed on the news or in public service announcements, people still think they can drive through deep water. Seriously, your car is not a boat. Tuesday’s (1/9) severe rain storm served as a good reminder of that.

When I got home from work, I noticed police lights on my street. I live at the top of a hill. Briar Creek runs underneath the road at the bottom of the hill. Yesterday, the creek ran over the bridge that crosses it. The police were down there to keep people from attempting to drive through the water. Unfortunately, someone beat them to it. This morning, the car was still there awaiting a tow truck. Why? You guessed it — a car is not a boat.

That wasn’t the only vehicle swallowed up by Briar Creek in East Charlotte on Tuesday. Our friends at WSOC-TV reported that a driver had to be rescued from their car after being swept away in the rushing water. It happened at the Windsor Harbor apartments off Shamrock Drive. Video (below) shows the car floating toward a bridge where it finally came to a stop. Neighbors were then able to break a window with a wood beam and pull the driver out. Miraculously, no one was injured.

The weather forecast calls for more rain on Friday (1/12). One of the best things we can all do for our neighborhoods is to clear any clogged storm drains. If you see sticks, leaves, pine needles, or other debris blocking a drain on your street, grab a shovel and get that stuff out of the way so the water has somewhere to go. And if there is more flooding, please don’t drive through it.

Phil Harris is 50% of "Phil & Mel in the Afternoon" on K104.7. He has been with the station since 2013 and on the air in Charlotte since 2000. Before coming to the Queen City, Phil worked for radio stations in Pittsburgh, Austin, and Seattle. In addition to the weekly "Throwback Threesome" music video feature, Phil writes about things that matter to Charlotte sports fans and pet owners. He happens to be both.

Surviving Thunderstorms: 5 Don'ts You Must Remember

Thunderstorms can be both fascinating and scary, with their electrifying displays of lightning and booming thunder. However, not everyone knows that there are certain things you’re not supposed to do when there’s a thunderstorm.

During the summer months, thunderstorms occur frequently due to the high humidity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 73 percent of lightning-related fatalities occur in June, July, and August. According to the National Weather Service, an excess of moisture in the atmosphere, atmospheric instability, and a triggering mechanism are the conditions that lead to thunderstorms. When these elements are combined, they can unleash a powerful symphony of heavy rainfall, thunder, lightning, strong winds, and even hail.

Being prepared for thunderstorms

The American Red Cross has some advice on how to get ready for those wild summer thunderstorms. Taking preventive measures like subscribing to local government emergency alerts, equipping your home with backup batteries, and devising a family plan for hazardous weather situations can all prove invaluable during emergencies.

Thunderstorm myths and misconceptions

When it comes to thunderstorms, there are plenty of myths and misconceptions about what you should avoid doing. One of the most common misconceptions is that wearing rubber-soled shoes or being inside a car with rubber tires makes us immune to lightning strikes. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Lightning can still travel through the ground or the metal frame of a car, even if it has rubber tires.

Many people believe that as long as they’re not directly under the storm cloud, they are safe from lightning strikes. However, lightning bolts can extend horizontally for significant distances, reaching as far as 10 miles away from the storm. And also keep in mind that trees, especially tall ones, are prime targets for lightning strikes due to their height and conductivity.

Along with getting prepared and knowing thunderstorm myths, you have to know what not to do during a thunderstorm.

Here are 5 things you should never do during a thunderstorm.

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