MOULTRIE – Colquitt County is projected to see a significant amount of rain, which increases the chances of flash flooding in the area. Colquitt County is currently under a flood watch but was under a flash flood warning Wednesday evening.

A “watch” issued means the weather conditions are favorable for a dangerous weather event within the next 12 to 36 hours and a “warning” issued means the dangerous weather event is occurring or will be in the next 30 minutes to an hour.

The National Weather Service defines “flash flooding” on its website as flooding that begins within six hours and often within three hours of heavy rainfall.

Flash flooding occurs so quickly that people are caught off-guard and their situation may become dangerous if they encounter high, fast-moving water while traveling.

“Remember, just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away,” states the Ready.gov website.

It gives some things to do and not do in the event of flash flooding:

• Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn Around, Don’t Drown!

• Never drive around barricades. Local responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas.

• Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning.

“Most flood fatalities in the US happen in flash floods,” states the FEMA website.

A “shelter-in-place” will be put into effect from midnight tonight to 8 a.m. Friday. This will give the utility crews the opportunity to get out and get power back up and clear debris and trees from the roads, County Administrator Chas Cannon said during Wednesday’s hurricane preparation meeting.