Screenshot of video by Rachael KnudsenA journalist was left stranded in a Waymo robotaxi after it refused to drive through a flooded street that other cars easily crossed, raising questions about its ability to handle mildly waterlogged roads.The journalist captured the footage from her phone, showing two instances where the robotaxi came to a halt. Some may argue that the second instance was more of a large puddle than an actual flood.Another incident involving a Waymo stuck on a flooded road also surfaced, prompting the company to pause operations in Atlanta until conditions are suitable to resume services.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe incident highlights how autonomous taxis handle extreme situations such as floods, ultimately relying on humans to rescue those stranded.Floods Ravage Atlanta, Affecting Traffic MovementAtlanta, Georgia, was significantly affected by flash floods on Wednesday. Traffic cameras from the Georgia Department of Transportation showed the water level rising in minutes, leading to blocked roads and cars partially submerged.Radar estimates suggested some areas of downtown and Midtown received up to three inches of rain in just an hour. The National Weather Service even issued a flash flood warning for Atlanta. However, conditions improved on Wednesday night.Journalist Left Stranded in Waymo That Refused to Move InitiallyScreenshot of video by Rachael KnudsenAn Instagram post by AJC News showed how one of its journalists, Rachael Knudsen, who recorded the footage on her phone, was in a Waymo robotaxi when it stopped at what appeared to be a flooded dead-end street, though the actual depth of the water was unclear.AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the second instance, the vehicle decided to pull over and call roadside assistance, even when other cars passed by.The autonomous taxi likely assumed that the road ahead was unsafe to drive through due to the flood, but the depth of the water seemed less than half a foot.Fortunately for her, the Waymo robotaxi began to move again, only to reportedly get stuck again.The Instagram post read:"Be careful out there, Atlanta."One of our journalists, Rachael Knudsen, was picked up by a Waymo Wednesday evening before the autonomous car got stuck in flood waters multiple times."Uber ended up sending a replacement (human) ride, and needed to tow the Waymo she was originally riding in.AdvertisementAdvertisement"A reminder that no human (or robot) should drive into heavy flood waters."Since Uber is mentioned here, there is a possibility that Waymo used its services to arrange transport for Knudsen.Screenshot of video by Rachael KnudsenWaymo Pauses Atlanta Operations After Flooding-Related IncidentsAccording to a report by WUSA9, Waymo temporarily paused its operations in Atlanta in the wake of the flash floods, especially after one of its unoccupied robotaxis was left stranded in the flood waters after heavy rain lashed the city.A Waymo spokesperson confirmed in a statement that no passengers were in the vehicle when it was stranded. The robotaxi reportedly drove into the flooded area before getting stuck. The vehicle was eventually driven away when the flood waters receded after an hour. AdvertisementAdvertisementWaymo said it made changes to its operations relating to flooding after a recent recall and was working on software updates to enhance vehicle performance around flooded roads. The robotaxi service will remain paused until conditions are safe to resume service. The statement read:“Safety is Waymo’s top priority, both for our riders and everyone we share the road with. During a period of intense rain today in Atlanta, an unoccupied Waymo vehicle encountered a flooded road and stopped. The vehicle has been recovered and removed from the scene.”