History Main / RisingWaterRisingTension

** In the Miss Egghead arc, Miss Egghead is double-crossed by her ally chicory and locked in a gamecock pen in the basement of his hacienda. When a hurricane strikes the island, Chicory flees; leaving Miss Egghead in the cage in the basement which is slowly filling with water.

* ''ComicStrip/DickTracy'': Tracy's showdown with [[TunnelKing The Mole]] during the Mole's first appearance takes place in the Mole's system of tunnels which are filling with water; first from melting snow and then from a burst water main.

* The ''Series/AllSaints'' episode "Hard Rain" which plays out similar to the ''ER'' episode above - up until the little girl gets suddenly washed away before Ben can rescue her, later turning up dead.

* ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'': In ''Terror in New York City'', Ned and Joe are trapped underground in a cave which is slowly filling with water from an underground river. Although breathing apparatus is passed down to them from above, the tension rises as they wonder if they will be rescued before the air runs out. Not only that, but buildings above them are collapsing, which might cause the roof to cave in.

* ''Series/Thunderbirds'': In ''Terror in New York City'', Ned and Joe are trapped underground in a cave which is slowly filling with water from an underground river. Although breathing apparatus is passed down to them from above, the tension rises as they wonder if they will be rescued before the air runs out. Not only that, but buildings above them are collapsing, which might cause the roof to cave in.

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* TheVillain of ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' is filling the soundstage with water in a scheme to drown or discredit the animal performers. While her victims try to remain afloat aboard a set piece never meant to be seaworthy, poor Pudge remains tied in the control room where the rising water submerges him entirely.

* ''Film/HardRain'' is essentially ''This Trope: The Movie'' as Christian Slater plays cat and mouse with gang of robbers [[spoiler:and a pack of {{Dirty Cop}}s]] to secure $3 million in stolen cash hidden in a town that is slowly disappearing beneath flood waters.

* In ''Film/ThePoseidonAdventure'' and its remake ''Film/{{Poseidon}}'', the survivors have to contend with this after the ship flips upside down.
* In ''Film/TheCell'', a serial killer's victim is trapped in a watertight box to which an automatic system periodically adds water. The film's heroine must extract the box's location from the comatose killer's damaged mind before the box fills and his latest captive drowns.
* ''Film/{{Crawl}}'': The rising water from the hurricane acts as a threat to the heroes.
* The climax of ''Film/TheTerror'', involves the Baron opening a floodgate to let the sea into the crypts below the castle, drowning himself and anyone who is with him.
* ''Film/DontTurnTheOtherCheek'': When out to interrogate Mendoza on his own, Lozoya gets into a fight and, looking for defense, hurls himself into an empty well. This doesn't work out as he gets a graze on the hand, his gun runs out of bullets and the soldiers fill the well with water to drown him...

* ''Literature/JoePickett'': In ''In Plain Sight'', Joe's daughters are abducted as one of the biggest storms in living memory sweeps in. Joe first has to find a way through the flood waters to the ranch where they are being held, and then race to find and rescue them as the ranch buildings slowly disappear beneath the flood.

* ''Literature/HowTheMarquisGotHisCoatBack'': The Marquis begins the story chained to pole in the middle of a room that is slowly filling with water.
* In ''[[Literature/DanShambleZombiePI Slimy Underbelly]]'', rising sewer-waters threaten to flood the Unnatural Quarter, including the museum. Not only does this ruin most of mummy Ramen-Hotep's possessions, but museum staff must resort to frantic bailing to save the original Necronomicon, which can't be moved to a higher floor due to the multiple, hard-to-disassemble layers of enchantments used to secure the powerful book.
* ''Literature/EternityRoad''. The protagonists have located a library of pre-Apocalpyse lost knowledge. However by forcing the door open they've exposed the ElaborateUndergroundBase to a sudden tidal change. They find themselves trapped in the library, trying to haul the books to higher shelves so they won't be damaged, while also plugging every hole in the ceiling so an air bubble will be created and [[DrowningPit they won't drown]].

* ''Series/MidsomerMurders'': The final denouement in "Let Us Prey" takes place during a flood that is threatening to engulf the village, and in particular destroy the crypt that lies at the centre of the mystery.

* ''Series/PerfectStrangers'': One episode has Larry, Balki and others trapped in the basement of the apartment building. A pipe breaks and the basement floods due to a plugged up drain. They have to find a way to escape before the water reaches the fuse box and electrocutes them all.
* ''Literature/DalzielAndPascoe'': The climax of "Under World" has Pascoe confronting a murderer in an abandoned mine that is slowly filling with water due to a storm.

* The ''Series/AllSaints'' episode "Hard Rain" which plays out similar to the ''ER'' episode above - up until the little girl gets suddenly washed away before Ben can rescue her, later turning up dead.
* In the ''Series/{{Neighbours}}'' 1998 season final, Joel is trapped under a car that rolled backwards into a river. When it starts raining heavily, Karl has to work hard to keep him breathing until help arrives.

* Music/BobDylan's "Highwater (For Charley Patton)".

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* ''ComicStrip/DickTracy'': Tracy's showdown with [[TunnelKing The Mole]] during the Mole's first appearance takes place in the Mole's system of tunnels which are filling with water; first from melting snow and then from a burst water main.
[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/GhostTrick'': A late level is set in a sinking submarine. You have to make a path for your companions to flee from the rising water.
* ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot3Warped'': The level Tomb Wader is set in an Egyptian catacombs where water floods up and drains down at intervals. When the water goes too high you should find a tall footing for Crash to stand on and wait until the water drains, otherwise he'll be drowned in the water.
* ''VideoGame/MegaManZero3'': Volteel Biblio's level is set in a sunken library where the water goes up and down at intervals. The danger isn't the water itself (Zero is fine underwater) but when the water touches the exposed wiring that hangs off the ceiling, shocking the water; Zero can get harmed if he doesn't go out of the water quickly.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2020}}'': In "Green Fever", a red alert is signaled after a supply ship's concrete mooring, cast off during a hurricane, unwittingly strikes Sealab's control dome and splits a major section of the shell, causing it to start flooding.
* ''WesternAnimation/ThunderbirdsAreGo'': In "Ring of Fire" Part 1", International Rescue have to save the crew of an underwater lab that has been damaged by an earthquake and is taking on water.
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePerilsOfPenelopePitstop'': In "The Terrible Trolley Trap", Penelope is afloat in a sealed room that the Hooded Claw fills with water. While the water rises, the Ant Hill Mob search the ship for her. Just as Penelope is near the harpoon on the ceiling, the mobsters open the door and release all the water.

* The season 4 finale of ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'' revolves around a scientist onboard a deep-sea laboratory threatening to launch two nerve gas missiles at New York unless the world agrees to several serious changes in eco-politics, and ISIS is sent in to take him down. However, it turns out there are no missiles and the scientist has simply gone insane from isolation. However, a brief scuffle leads to the walls of the lab being breached and flooding the whole complex. Since there are only three scuba tanks for four people, Archer agrees to go without, leading to him drowning and being legally dead for a few minutes once they reach safety.

* In the ''Series/Neighbours'' 1998 season final, Joel is trapped under a car that rolled backwards into a river. When it starts raining heavily, Karl has to work hard to keep him breathing until help arrives.

* ''VideoGame/MegaManZero 3:'' Volteel Biblio's level is set in a sunken library where the water goes up and down at intervals. The danger isn't the water itself (Zero is fine underwater) but when the water touches the exposed wiring that hangs off the ceiling, shocking the water; Zero can get harmed if he doesn't go out of the water quickly.

There is an almost 100% chance the cast will end up in a SexySoakedShirt.

Often overlaps with BigStormEpisode. Also with BigDamPlot if the flood threatens to destroy the local dam.

See also RiseToTheChallenge, where rising flood waters are one of the obstacles a character might have to avoid, and GiantWallOfWateryDoom, where the water is a much more ''abrupt'' threat. Compare DrowningPit.

* The climax of ''Film/TheTerror'', involves the Baron a floodgate to let the sea in the crypts below the castle, drowning himself and anyone who is with him.

See also RiseToTheChallenge, where rising flood waters are one of the obstacles a character might have to avoid, and GiantWallOfWateryDoom, where the water is a much more ''abrupt'' threat.

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'', as it's part of the three-part "Hurricane" storyarc that took place across all three of FOX's animated shows at the time, had the Smith's become trapped in their house when a hurricane flood hits Langley Falls, and Stan had refused to evacuate due to his obession with the idea that as the man of the house, it was his job to keep everybody safe. Unfortunatly, as part of his stormproofing, he had sealed up the ''storm drain under the house'', leading to the house being washed off it's foundation and flooded. It goes downhill from there as Stans decisions just make things worse at every turn, and almost gets Hailey and Francine killed. In the end, they have to be rescued by Buckle, the mountaineer.
* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' had the episode "A Griffin Family History" where the Griffins hide in a panic room when burglars break in, and are trapped inside when the sprinklers go off, causing the room to slowly flood. To pass the time while they wait to drown, Peter tells the story of their ancestors (and caps it off by telling his family that he didnt like ''TheGodfather''). Luckily, they're rescued by Joe before the room is completely full.

* ''AmericanDad'', as it's part of the three-part "Hurricane" storyarc that took place across all three of FOX's animated shows at the time, had the Smith's become trapped in their house when a hurricane flood hits Langley Falls, and Stan had refused to evacuate due to his obession with the idea that as the man of the house, it was his job to keep everybody safe. Unfortunatly, as part of his stormproofing, he had sealed up the ''storm drain under the house'', leading to the house being washed off it's foundation and flooded. It goes downhill from there as Stans decisions just make things worse at every turn, and almost gets Hailey and Francine killed. In the end, they have to be rescued by Buckle, the mountaineer.
* ''FamilyGuy'' had the episode "A Griffin Family History" where the Griffins hide in a panic room when burglars break in, and are trapped inside when the sprinklers go off, causing the room to slowly flood. To pass the time while they wait to drown, Peter tells the story of their ancestors (and caps it off by telling his family that he didnt like ''TheGodfather''). Luckily, they're rescued by Joe before the room is completely full.
* The season 4 finale of ''{{Archer}}'' revolves around a scientist onboard a deep-sea laboratory threatening to launch two nerve gas missiles at New York unless the world agrees to several serious changes in eco-politics, and ISIS is sent in to take him down. However, it turns out there are no missiles and the scientist has simply gone insane from isolation. However, a brief scuffle leads to the walls of the lab being breached and flooding the whole complex. Since there are only three scuba tanks for four people, Archer agrees to go without, leading to him drowning and being legally dead for a few minutes once they reach safety.