Drove Through High Water? Here’s What You Need to Check on Your Car

(Lafayette, LA) This past Thursday, April 24, 2025, a large portion of South Louisiana along the I-10 corridor was inundated by an extremely heavy rainstorm. The National Weather Service says the rain that fell on cities such as Youngsville, Broussard, Lafayette, Breaux Bridge, and Baton Rouge could be considered to be a "100-Year Rainfall Event".

And yes, the term describes exactly what you think it describes. Basically, the almost nine inches of rain that fell in a three-hour period over some of those locales won't likely happen for "another 100 years".  And while many homeowners in those communities spent this past weekend assessing their property for flood and other storm damages, the effects of the deluge could be even more far-reaching.

What Is a 100-Year Rain Event?

As the storm unfolded, fortunately, many school systems across South Louisiana, including the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, were on spring break. That meant that traffic during the early morning hours was not nearly as heavy as it could have been.

SEE PHOTOS NOW: Flooding in Youngsville, Louisiana

READ MORE: Assistance Offered for Youngsville Flood Victims

Still, thousands of motorists across the region had to make a choice that morning: do I drive through these flooded streets or do I wait for the water to go down? While it is always the better choice to "Turn Around, Don't Drown", we understand why you did what you felt you needed to do.

For those who drove through the high water, we hope you suffered no ill effects for your personal well-being or the well-being of your automobile. Unfortunately, many issues that high water can bring to cars won't show themselves until much later.

How Does Driving In High Water Affect Your Car?

We asked around to some of our mechanic friends and put together a list of issues that driving in or through high water could bring to your vehicle. Get familiar with them now in case you have a problem in the next few days or weeks. That way, you can tell your automotive professional what happened, and they can offer a better solution to your waterlogged car troubles.