The latest track predictions show Hurricane Matthew making its way farther north toward the North Carolina coast.

With any tropical storm, exact predictions are hard to come by and usually change throughout the day. However, one thing is certain: Beaufort County will be getting a lot of rain and that means flooding, as well.

Eastern North Carolina is under a flash flood advisory until Sunday, and recent estimates show the area receiving anywhere from 6-10 inches of rain.

Talk of flooding and flooding safety is common in these situations, and although it can be overwhelming and all too familiar, it’s nonetheless important.

The more people hear the tips, the more likely they will take the instructions to heart. These tips can save lives.

Ready.gov offers several instructions to follow: avoid walking or driving through floodwaters; move to higher ground when flash flooding occurs; if floodwaters rise around one’s car, abandon the vehicle if the water is not moving (do not leave the car in moving water); do not park near streams, rivers or creeks during heavy rains.

In an area such as Beaufort County, residents are not strangers to flooding, but experience does not necessarily equate to safety. In all situations, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

According to Ready.gov, only 6 inches of water has the ability to knock a person down and 2 feet of water can sweep away a vehicle. It doesn’t seem as though several inches of water could be so dangerous, but flash floods are the No. 1 cause of weather-related deaths in the country. That’s nothing to brush off.

By following safety precautions and remaining vigilant of weather conditions, Beaufort County residents will ride out this storm with less damage and a lesser chance of injuries.

Be safe!