Kennedy-King College Professor and Auto Tech expert shares advice with Axios: How to navigate Chicago's flooded roads

Tuesday night’s storms were a preview of the heavier downpours Chicago can expect over the next 25 years, according to a recent University of Illinois bulletin.

Story excerpt below

The answer: Fight that instinct to speed through the water, says Kenneth McMillian, who chairs the department of automotive and collision technology at Kennedy-King College.

Instead, “keep a low, consistent speed,” he tells Axios. “Think like walking pace. This creates a small boat wake in the front of the vehicle that can help prevent water from rushing into the engine bay.”

Between the lines: McMillian also warns against driving through high water, noting potential damage to your engine, electrical system, transmission, brakes and interior that could cost thousands to fix.

The bottom line: Look for other routes, consider your vehicle’s height, and, if you must drive through, keep it slow and steady.

Flood flip tip: When evaluating a used car for undisclosed flood damage, McMillian advises checking for a musty smell in the ventilation system, mud deep in the seats, and diagnostic lights that have been disabled.

Read the full story and see the images in Axios