If the Water is Up to My Ankle, Can I Walk Through? Guidelines for Walking in Flooded Areas
Movement Criteria to Avoid Hidden Manholes, Swift Currents, and Electric Shock Hazards
The question of whether you can walk through water up to your ankle is often raised during heavy rain, but by then, you might not have enough time to make a decision. Typhoons and heavy rainfall increase risk due to overlapping rainfall, terrain, drainage facilities, river levels, and movement routes.
This list provides a step-by-step official guideline centered on the principle of avoiding direct testing for water depth and moving to higher ground. It focuses on what signals to watch for at specific places and moments to stop moving or evacuate, without repeating the usual preparedness items for typhoons and checks around the home.
Relying on just one source of safety information is insufficient. The Meteorological Administration’s advisories and radar provide current weather, flood risk maps offer pre-scenario analysis, while disaster messages and on-site control inform you of actions to take immediately. Since each serves a different role, check them together.
The most important criterion is the life of a person over vehicles and belongings. Do not test the water depth after it has risen, and set predetermined high locations and detours before any danger arises. In actual situations, follow the guidance of fire services, police, and local governments first.
Detour Before Entering Flooded Areas
Avoiding Entry Before Flooded Areas
Avoiding Entry Before Flooded Areas is the factor to consider when deciding whether to avoid roads where the water's status is not visible. Typhoons and heavy rainfall can change risks even in the same area depending on time and terrain, so do not conclude that it is safe based on one map or single guidance.
When assessing, prioritize checking control lines and detour guidance to select higher roads. Determine your movement route and higher places before danger signals appear, and when on-site control lines or evacuation guidance from authorities begins, prioritize the movement of people over vehicles and belongings.
Specifically, avoid situations where you enter by testing the depth with shoes or umbrellas. Do not test the water's depth or flow directly, and always follow the latest disaster messages, weather advisories, and guidance from fire services, police, and local governments.
Manhole and Drain Risks
Risks from Manholes and Drains
Risks from Manholes and Drains is the factor to assess when judging the potential for open covers or rapid suction to occur. Typhoons and heavy rainfall can change risks even in the same area depending on time and terrain, so do not conclude that it is safe based on one map or single guidance.
When assessing, prioritize remembering the usual locations of sidewalks and road edges and moving away from them. Determine your movement route and high places before danger signals appear, and when on-site control lines or evacuation guidance from authorities begins, prioritize the movement of people over vehicles and belongings.
Avoid situations where you blindly trust the usual path when the water’s bottom is not visible. Do not test the water's depth or flow directly, and always follow the latest disaster messages, weather advisories, and guidance from fire services, police, and local governments.
Fast Currents and Rapids
Fast Currents and Swift Water
Fast Currents and Swift Water is the factor to assess when judging the possibility of losing balance and being swept away, even when it looks shallow. Typhoons and heavy rainfall can change risks even in the same area depending on time and terrain, so do not conclude that it is safe based on one map or single guidance.
When assessing, prioritize retreating to nearby higher ground rather than against the flow. Determine your movement route and high places before danger signals appear, and when on-site control lines or evacuation guidance from authorities begins, prioritize the movement of people over vehicles and belongings.
Avoid situations where you think you can cross by holding hands with multiple people. Do not test the water's depth or flow directly, and always follow the latest disaster messages, weather advisories, and guidance from fire services, police, and local governments.
Prohibition of Access to Riversides and Underpasses
Prohibiting Access to Riverbanks and Underpasses
Prohibiting Access to Riverbanks and Underpasses is the factor to assess when judging the possibility of sudden increases in water levels or blocked exits. Typhoons and heavy rainfall can change risks even in the same area depending on time and terrain, so do not conclude that it is safe based on one map or single guidance.
When assessing, prioritize checking entrance controls and river water level information. Determine your movement route and high places before danger signals appear, and when on-site control lines or evacuation guidance from authorities begins, prioritize the movement of people over vehicles and belongings.
Avoid situations where you enter thinking it’s a shortcut. Do not test the water's depth or flow directly, and always follow the latest disaster messages, weather advisories, and guidance from fire services, police, and local governments.
Danger of Electrocution from Streetlights and Electrical Boxes
Electrical Shock Hazards from Streetlights and Switchgear
Electrical Shock Hazards from Streetlights and Switchgear is the factor to assess when judging the possibility of leakage occurring around submerged electrical installations. Typhoons and heavy rainfall can change risks even in the same area depending on time and terrain, so do not conclude that it is safe based on one map or single guidance.
When assessing, prioritize keeping a distance from utility poles and electrical boxes while taking detours. Determine your movement route and high places before danger signals appear, and when on-site control lines or evacuation guidance from authorities begins, prioritize the movement of people over vehicles and belongings.
Avoid situations where you are moving while holding onto metal railings or electrical equipment. Do not test the water's depth or flow directly, and always follow the latest disaster messages, weather advisories, and guidance from fire services, police, and local governments.
Nighttime Flooded Areas
Flooded Areas at Night
Flooded Areas at Night is the factor to assess when it is difficult to confirm water levels, obstacles, and slopes. Typhoons and heavy rainfall can change risks even in the same area depending on time and terrain, so do not conclude that it is safe based on one map or single guidance.
When assessing, prioritize moving to higher floors of bright buildings or designated evacuation shelters. Determine your movement route and high places before danger signals appear, and when on-site control lines or evacuation guidance from authorities begins, prioritize the movement of people over vehicles and belongings.
Avoid situations where you rely solely on your smartphone's light while walking through water. Do not test the water's depth or flow directly, and always follow the latest disaster messages, weather advisories, and guidance from fire services, police, and local governments.
Accompany Children and Elderly
Accompanying Children and the Elderly
Accompanying Children and the Elderly is the factor to assess when judging risks related to companions who may struggle with walking speed and balance. Typhoons and heavy rainfall can change risks even in the same area depending on time and terrain, so do not conclude that it is safe based on one map or single guidance.
When assessing, prioritize moving before flooding occurs and request help if necessary. Determine your movement route and high places before danger signals appear, and when on-site control lines or evacuation guidance from authorities begins, prioritize the movement of people over vehicles and belongings.
Avoid situations where you think you can cross swift water by carrying or assisting someone. Do not test the water's depth or flow directly, and always follow the latest disaster messages, weather advisories, and guidance from fire services, police, and local governments.
Report to 119 When Isolated
Reporting Isolation to 119
Reporting Isolation to 119 is the factor to assess when the situation indicates that waiting for rescue is safer than attempting to move on your own. Typhoons and heavy rainfall can change risks even in the same area depending on time and terrain, so do not conclude that it is safe based on one map or single guidance.
When assessing, prioritize informing them of your exact location, the number of people, and changes in water levels. Determine your movement route and high places before danger signals appear, and when on-site control lines or evacuation guidance from authorities begins, prioritize the movement of people over vehicles and belongings.
Avoid situations where you delay reporting to conserve battery or attempt dangerous movement. Do not test the water's depth or flow directly, and always follow the latest disaster messages, weather advisories, and guidance from fire services, police, and local governments.
Responding to typhoons and flooding is more about acting swiftly when danger signals appear than memorizing a lot of information. If water enters underground spaces, or if the road surface is not visible, and on-site control has begun, abandon vehicles and items and move to higher ground.
If you have reviewed the principles of avoiding direct testing of water depth and evacuating to higher ground, make it a point to check the high roads, emergency stairs, and evacuation facilities around your home and workplace in advance. Safe-looking routes on a map can be blocked by construction, control, or actual flooding, so it’s wise to determine more than one route for movement.
Weather forecasts and risk maps from the Meteorological Administration are tools for securing preparation time, not absolute safety guarantees. Strong winds and heavy rainfall can occur outside the prediction range, and small underground spaces or alleys not shown on the map can become dangerous more quickly.
Make a quick agreement with your family on who will help whom and where to meet again. It’s helpful to keep disaster alerts active on your mobile phone and memorize the address and nearby landmarks for emergency calls. In real disasters, the most current information and guidance from on-site rescue agencies take precedence over this list.
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