A nerve-wracking water rescue in Oklahoma this spring provided a stark illustration of an important mantra: Turn around. Don’t drown.

An electric cooperative lineworker was on his way home after toiling long hours to restore power during a storm when he came across a woman hanging onto a rock in a rushing creek. Her car was upstream, nose down in the water, where it had fallen 15 feet from the flood-damaged road.

The lineman called 911 and then threw a rope to the stranded woman. He was able to pull her to safety. But not everyone is fortunate enough to have a strong, trained, and well-equipped lineman come to their rescue. Each year, more deaths occur because of flooding than from any other severe weather-related hazard, according to the National Weather Service. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous floodwaters. Walking into floodwaters is the second-deadliest cause of deaths from drowning.

Follow these safety guidelines from the National Weather Service to keep your head above water:

Avoid areas already flooded, especially if the water is moving fast. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams. Turn around. Don't drown.

Roadbeds may be washed out under floodwaters. Never drive through flooded roadways where you can’t see what’s hidden beneath.

Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly during threatening conditions. Move to higher ground if heavy rain or rising water occurs.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.

If you must evacuate your home, secure it and, if possible, turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you’re wet or standing in water.

Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can sweep you away.

Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.

Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and possible stalling. A foot of water will float many vehicles. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles, including sport utility vehicles and pickups.