Flooding is nature's number one killer.

In fact, on average, it kills more people than hurricanes and lightning combined.   

The most common cause of flooding deaths is when people drive their vehicle into floodwaters. The danger in this is that drivers are unable to see how deep the water is or how fast it is moving. In addition, when a road is covered with water, drivers can't see whether or not the road has been washed out. 

It takes as little as six inches of water to lose control of your vehicle. 

The National Weather Service has created a nationwide campaign called "Turn Around, Don't Drown." The message is to turn around before driving your vehicle into floodwaters, especially at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers. 

One location in Erie County that is hit repeatedly by flooding issues is Millcreek Township, which has been taking steps in recent years to reduce the amount of flooding. 

"Over the past few years, Millcreek has invested in creating retention basins," said Millcreek Township Supervisor John Morgan. "We've built about twenty of those in the last twenty years to help with flooding issues. Part of the challenge we have, with climate change, is localized, short-duration heavy rain events that are causing flooding in certain neighborhoods."

Morgan says it's important to maintain existing infrastructure, keep channels clear, and proactively clean out the storm sewer system. 

He says that is something the township has been able to do since paving was outsourced. As a result, Millcreek Township crews are almost exclusively dedicated to maintaining free-flowing storm water systems.