Before you leave, check the official road-information service for your route and the National Weather Service (NWS) alerts for the area. The Federal Highway Administration’s National Traffic and Road Closure Information directory is a starting point for finding state and territorial services. If a road is flooded or barricaded, turn around—never drive into the water or around the barrier.
1. Find the official road-information service for your route
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Open the FHWA National Traffic and Road Closure Information directory and select your state or territory. The directory is a way to find local sources, not a live map covering every road.
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From the relevant state, regional, or local transportation service, check the roads on your planned route for closures, incidents, and current road conditions. Depending on the location, services such as 511 may offer route information, traffic cameras, or other map layers. Available tools and coverage vary; see the FHWA overview of real-time traveler information.
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Check the specific road segments you expect to use, including local connections to main roads. A route result or an absence of reported closures does not establish that every neighborhood road is clear.
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Garmin Drive™ 53 GPS Navigator- Bright, high-resolution 5” glass capacitive touchscreen display lets you easily view your route
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2. Check flood alerts for the area
Look up current NWS flood watches and warnings for the places your route passes through. The NWS Flood Safety Tips and Resources page provides flood information and safety guidance. A weather alert indicates flood risk in an area; a transportation service reports road conditions and closures. Check both because they answer different questions: an alert may affect travel before a road closure appears in a road report, while a road report can identify a reported closure on a particular route.
3. Recheck shortly before leaving
Flooding and road reports can change quickly. Check the road service and NWS alerts again close to departure, especially if rain or flooding is ongoing. Do not treat a map showing a route, or the lack of a closure report, as permission to cross water.
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4. If you encounter water or a barricade, turn around
The NWS guidance is direct: “NEVER drive through flooded roadways – you do not know the condition of the road under the water.” NWS: Turn Around Don’t Drown. Water can conceal a washed-out roadbed and other hazards, so visible depth is not a reliable way to judge whether the road is safe. The NWS also notes that six inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult off their feet (Metropolitan Transportation Commission, 511.org FAQ).
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Do not drive into floodwater.
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Do not drive around a barricade; turn around and choose a route that avoids the flooded or closed road.
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What these checks can—and cannot—tell you
| Source | What to check | What it does not guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| State, regional, or local transportation service | Reported incidents, closures, road conditions, and—where available—cameras or map layers. Tools vary by jurisdiction; see Southern California 511’s FAQ for an example of a local service. | Complete live coverage of every local road or confirmation that an unreported road is safe. |
| National Weather Service alerts | Flood watches and warnings indicating weather-related risk in the area. | A road-by-road determination of whether your route is open. |
The FHWA directory and 511 services are U.S.-focused. Coverage and features depend on location, and no single listing guarantees live information for every road. Use the local official service for the route and follow on-the-ground closures and flood-safety guidance.
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