Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch

Card “E”

Calling from an automobile (van, SUV).

Q1: Where are you located?
Q2: Are you trapped in your vehicle?
Q3: Is the water deep, or flowing fast?
Q4: Is your vehicle floating? If so, which direction is it going?

If the person IS trapped in very deep, fast-moving water and/or the vehicle is floating away (especially if water is getting into the automobile and their life is threatened):

Tell the caller…

• Try to open a side window, or break it with your shoe or some other solid object.
• Try to find a flotation device of some sort in your automobile. If nothing else is available, you can use a jacket or shirt to trap air, and create your own makeshift flotation cushion.
• Leave the vehicle and try to make your way to dry ground, keeping a tight grip on the flotation device.

If the victim IS NOT in very deep, fast-flowing water, nor floating away:
Tell the caller…

• Stay in your car. We are sending the fire department.