ARDMORE, Okla. (KTEN) — The Carter County Emergency Management director urges you to turn around if you see significant flooding — even on roads you travel frequently.

Paul Tucker said many people continue driving past barricades or flooded roads, which can lead to dangerous situations like the recent drowning of a McCurtain County man.

When flooding occurs, emergency management is sometimes unable to place barricades at every high water location in the county. That's why they encourage people to use caution and turn around if they see a road with flooding.

"Even if there are no barricades, there it doesn't necessarily mean it is safe to travel through," Tucker said. "It doesn't matter how many times you've traveled that road— if the water is deep enough, that road could be gone, so we always preach 'turn around, don't drown.'"

Tucker adds that it is often hard to see what is underneath high water, which can sometimes lead to a vehicle being swept into the flood. 

And there's this: It is illegal to bypass barricades.