It might not seem like it just yet, but Sunday, June 15, is the official beginning of the summer monsoon in Arizona.

Governor Jan Brewer has declared this week Monsoon Awareness Week as public safety officials want the public to know how to navigate safely through potential storms.

Driving into a dust storm is dangerous, and oftentimes it can be avoided, according to officials. Drivers and their passengers must do their part by planning ahead if there are threats of a dust storm.

It’s better to alter travel plans than to attempt to drive through dangerous conditions. But if you’re on the road and a dust storm suddenly appears near you, pull off the highway as quickly and safely as possible. Do not drive through a dust storm.

Tips for drivers who encounter a dust storm:

*Avoid driving into or through a dust storm.

*If you encounter a dust storm, check traffic immediately around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.

*Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway — do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if possible.

*Do not stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane; look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.

*Stop the vehicle in a position ensuring it is a safe distance from the main roadway and away from where other vehicles may travel.

*Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers.

*Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.

*Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.

*Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.

*A driver’s alertness and safe driving ability are always the top factors in preventing crashes.

Flash flooding is also a hazard during the monsoon, according to the Maricopa County Flood Control District.

A flash flood is a rapidly moving flood through low-lying areas such as washes and canyons. Flash floods occur after intense thunderstorms that drop large amounts of rainfall in a short period of time. When this happens, the ground cannot absorb the water fast enough so it accumulates in channels and flows downhill.

Flash floods are often preceded by a debris flow that contains rocks, brush, logs and anything else it picks up along the way.

Many times a flash flood occurs where no rain has fallen in the immediate area. In the desert Southwest, this situation can become very hazardous to people engaged in outdoor activities such as hiking and off-roading and to the motoring public in general.

Flash floods are very dangerous because they happen quickly and often without warning. Areas that have a potential for flash flooding should be avoided when thunderstorms are nearby. A vehicle is not a safe refuge during a flash flood. Fifty percent of flash flood fatalities occur when drivers try to cross flooded washes. Do not try to cross a roadway covered by floodwaters – the flood may conceal damage to the roadway beneath. Just two feet of water can cause even a large truck or SUV to float.

Find an alternate route or wait it out. Most flash floods dissipate in an hour or so.