MOTORISTS have been urged to take extra care on the County’s roads following severe rainfall throughout the morning.
ECFRS Control Operators and firefighters have dealt with some 200 flood and weather related calls since midnight.
The incidents have largely centred around Brentwood, Chelmsford and Ongar.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is warning drivers to take care and not get themselves and their families trapped by driving into flood water.
Just two feet of water is enough to float a car and six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars; this depth can cause loss of control or possible stalling as water is sucked into the exhaust or washes into the air intake.
Motorists should never attempt to drive through water deeper than the centre of their wheels. If water gets into the car’s air intake or into the electrics the car will stop leaving driver and passengers trapped.
The water could also be hiding damaged road or missing manhole covers.
Motorists should take particular care when crossing fords, these often become flooded and extremely dangerous with fast flowing water.
We do not have specific details of incidents as this stage. Any major calls will be reported on this website in the usual way.
