Living near a road that floods....a lot...I have seen many drivers fall victim to the floods but over the years I have observed the best way to get through a deep flood. It is always best not to drive through flood water but if you have no choice or you find yourself in deeper water than you were expecting, here's my advice on how to get across to the other side.
Enter the water at walking pace. As your car hits the water, it will create a bow wave. You should follow the bow wave at about 3 mph (or a brisk walk). Trying to go faster will increase the water height at the front of your car and could result in water being sucked up into the air intake.
If you are in really deep water (well over your door sills), slow down to a crawl, slip the clutch and rev the engine to stop water getting into your exhaust. As long as the water level stays below your air intake (which is usually just below the front of your bonnet), you should be able to get yourself out, but you may find you start to float (rear usually floats first) or that water starts seeping in through the door seals but don't panic and maintain that slow pace to preserve your engine.
Water in an engine can result in broken con rods and pistons which usually means your car will be written off or you will face a big bill for a new engine.
I am not a driving instructor and this is just my opinion based on years of observations. The footage was recorded on Shuttington Road near Alvecote in November 2012 by hadders1973