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Drivers Should Brush Up On Rainy Day Driving Advice

DENVER (CBS4) - Colorado's afternoon storms are enough to cause street flooding, and it doesn't take much for water to overpower cars stuck in the middle of a flash flood.

"As little as 6 inches is enough to touch the bottom of most passenger cars, and one foot can easily float a vehicle," Daelene Mix with Denver Public Works said.

Denver Public Works wants to remind residents to use common sense when driving in the rain. That means avoid driving through standing water. If somebody must, they should drive slowly.

"Stay away from any water that's near downed power or electrical lines. And something that people don't think about that's really important is to stay off your phone unless you're reporting an emergency," Mix said.

Mix had some advice for those traveling by foot or biking it in to work.

"When it's raining we encourage the public not to bike or walk near rivers or streams," she said. "Flash flooding can occur easily with little or no warning.

"Denver's wastewater crews are very proactive about checking basins and inlets and drains when they know a lot of accumulation is going to fall, as has happened today and will later on this evening."

To report significant flooding issues, Denver residents can call the customer service line at 311.

Help prevent street flooding by making sure that nothing is blocking a gutter flow line, like trash, tree limbs, and other debris.

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