How To Prepare Your Vehicle For A Hurricane
If you live on the eastern seaboard of North America, you know how devastating hurricanes can be. In recent years, hurricanes have been increasing in frequency and damage caused by hurricanes has been extensive. Over the last decade, several years have seen over five hurricanes, and 2005 saw fifteen hurricanes alone. If you want your car to survive the flooding and wind damage caused by hurricanes, follow this guide on how to prepare your vehicle for the next hurricane.
Keep Your Car Full Of Fuel
At the first sign of a hurricane, fill your car with whatever type of fuel it takes. Gasoline is one of the first items to sell out during the build-up to a hurricane, and unless you want your car to be stranded, you better stock up ahead of time. Keeping a backup gas can in the garage isn’t a bad idea, but might not be enough to get out of the way of the storm. Plan ahead and keep your tank full whenever hurricanes might occur.
Keep Paper Maps
Now that cell phones and wi-fi have become ubiquitous, very few people actually keep paper maps in their cars anymore. If you have to drive during an emergency like a hurricane, you need to know how to get wherever you are going. However, when a hurricane disrupts electrical and telecommunication grids, Google Maps will no longer be able to guide you to the nearest hospital. Keeping paper maps of your city and state or province will ensure you know where you’re going even when all the other GPS-addicted drivers are going in circles.
Keep Car Chargers Stocked
While most people focus on the storm itself when preparing for a hurricane, the aftermath can be just as difficult to weather. Many people have to flee their homes during or after hurricanes, and one’s car can suddenly become one’s home. Make sure your car is prepared to be your home base if you fear a hurricane might be approaching. Keeping your car stocked with all the chargers you need ensures you can charge and continue to use your vital mobile devices even if the electrical grid is disrupted by a storm.
Tape Your Windows
Car windows are some of the most commonly damaged items during a hurricane. Storm force winds can send debris flying at speeds high enough to break car windows or windshields. In order to protect your car from broken glass and make cleanup easier in the event of a broken window, cover the entire inside of your car’s windows and windshields with masking or packaging tape. That way, any broken glass will stay in one place as opposed to flying in every direction and potentially damaging the rest of your car.
Stock An Emergency Kit In Your Car
If your home is flooded or damaged and roads become undriveable, you might quickly find yourself without vital supplies during a hurricane. Before a hurricane lands, ensure that your car is stocked with an emergency kit that could get you through many of the problems you might encounter during or after a storm. This includes a first aid kit, emergency food and water, a flashlight, extra car fluids, and any medicines you or your family might need.
Check All The Fluids, Tires, And Lights
Hurricanes often disrupt electrical grids, meaning stores and service stations are forced to close. In the event of an incoming hurricane, make sure all your fluids are full before the hurricane hits. You don’t want your radiator to overheat when running from a killer storm, after all. It’s also a good idea to check your tire treads and air pressure and ensure all your lights are in working order. Storm conditions can make for dangerous driving - your car should be in top shape.
Park In A Safe, Sheltered Place
Most of the damage caused to property during hurricanes is usually due to either flooding or flying debris. Winds during hurricanes can reach over one hundred miles per hour, which is fast enough to send pieces of wood or rocks through your car’s glass or body. During hurricane season, keep your car parked in a garage or next to a shelter such as a house to protect it as much as possible from windborne debris.
Store The Keys And Documentation In A Safe Place
Hurricanes are unpredictable, and situations on the ground during a hurricane can go from safe to dangerous in the blink of an eye. When you have to leave your home in a hurry, it’s good to know where not only your keys are, but also the car’s important documentation for your car is so that you can take it with you. Bring all insurance information and the car’s title to ensure that even if you get separated from you car, you can identify it and claim it later.
Take Pictures
As one of the last lines of defense for your car, take pictures of it. Make sure the pictures are thorough; get every side, angle, and part of the car. That way, if disaster strikes and your car is damaged during a hurricane, you have proof of your car’s condition to take to your insurance company. Insurance companies are notorious for trying to classify claims as prior damage. Ensuring that you have pictures of your car will protect you against such tactics.
Check Your Insurance Policy
While this might seem like an odd step to take to prepare your vehicle for a hurricane, the fact is that hurricanes are unpredictable. All the preparations in the world don't amount to much if your vehicle is swept out to sea or completely submerged in rising flood waters. Having hurricane coverage in your auto insurance ensures that no matter what happens in the event of a hurricane, your car can recover or be replaced.