How to Avoid a ‘Hurricane Car’

When natural disasters strike, being prepared is essential to try and protect your home and vehicle. Hurricanes present a serious threat to personal safety and your car. Ensuring your vehicle is ready before a hurricane approaches is a critical step in disaster preparedness.

Dangers to a car in a hurricane

The potential dangers to vehicles during hurricanes include floodwaters that can infiltrate engines and interiors, leaving lasting damage. Flying debris carried by high speed winds can shatter windows and dent bodywork. A hurricane’s strong winds and heavy rainfall can cause cosmetic damage to your vehicle and result in severe mechanical issues, leaving you stranded in a storm when you require a working vehicle.

Preparing your car before a storm hits protects your investment and helps ensure you protect your investment and, in a worst-case scenario, you have a reliable means of transportation to reach a safe destination. Timely preparation can also ease the burden on emergency services, which often become overwhelmed during natural disasters.

How to prepare your car for a hurricane

How should I park my car before a hurricane?

As the threat of a hurricane looms, safeguarding your vehicle against ravaging high winds and flying debris is critical. Smart parking can make the difference between finding your car intact or severely damaged post-storm.

• Park inside. The ideal location to park your car during a hurricane is inside a garage. If you have a garage, back your vehicle into your parking space to facilitate a swift exit if evacuation becomes necessary. Positioning your car like this may also help shield it from potential harm.
• Park on higher ground. For those without access to a garage, positioning your vehicle on higher ground can prevent flood damage from rising waters. Choose a location that offers some degree of shelter from the elements, away from any structures or trees that might topple onto your car.
• Park in front of your garage door: If you can’t shelter your vehicle in a hurricane-code-compliant garage, consider parking it outside, next to the garage door. Positioning your car sideways can serve as a barrier against high-speed winds and help maintain the integrity of your garage door. This can prevent or minimize structural damage to your garage. This is especially important for attached garages.

Fuel up

A full tank of gas ensures you have enough fuel to evacuate and adds weight to your vehicle, which could help stabilize it during high winds.

Replenish fluids

A well-maintained car is more reliable, which is especially important in natural disasters like hurricanes. Checking and topping up vital fluids will help your vehicle run properly and reliably during an emergency.

Check and top up oil, coolant, and washer fluid

Regular maintenance is key; examine oil, transmission, brake, power steering, coolant and windshield wiper fluids. Confirm your car’s hoses, belts, tires and battery are in good condition. If you are unsure about how to perform a mechanical examination of your vehicle, seek a professional mechanic’s assistance well before an expected storm makes landfall.

Avoid driving through flood waters

It’s advisable to keep travel plans flexible to circumvent nearby floodwaters. Driving through floods can impair vehicle performance and cause irreversible water damage. If caught on the road during a flood, drive to higher ground and avoid parking near streams or washes.

How to protect your car during a hurricane

Protecting your car from a hurricane involves a mix of preparation and strategic parking. Start by parking in a secure location, ideally a garage, or at least on high ground away from trees and power lines. Fill up your gas tank in advance because fuel shortages are common during and after hurricanes. Remove all important documents from your car and keep them in a waterproof container to keep them dry and safe.

Because of a storm’s severity, it is challenging to guarantee your car’s safety during a hurricane. Despite this, you can significantly increase the likelihood of a positive outcome by parking indoors or in an area protected from potential flooding and flying debris. Documenting your vehicle’s condition before a storm will help with insurance claims if your car is damaged.

Documenting your car’s condition before a hurricane

In addition to physically safeguarding your car before a hurricane, document its current condition. 

• Take photos and videos as evidence. Prior to the onset of a storm, take detailed photos and videos of the interior and exterior of your car. These visual records are essential for insurance claims because they provide visual documentation of your vehicle’s pre-storm condition and could potentially save you significant out-of-pocket repair costs.

• Complete car maintenance. Ensure your vehicle receives a full check-up, including drive belts, tires, batteries and windshield wipers. Top off all fluids to keep your car in prime condition for evacuation, if necessary.

Protecting your documentation and keys

In addition to vehicle preparedness, protecting vital documents and keys is vital for post-storm recovery.  

• Secure your documents in a waterproof container. Store vehicle documentation, such as insurance, registration and pictures of your car, in a waterproof and fireproof box. Make copies of these records and share them with your family members to ensure a backup copy remains safe.
• Keep car keys safe and accessible. Keep your car keys in a secure and accessible location. In emergency scenarios, immediate access to your vehicle is essential. Know where your keys are at all times.

An emergency kit for your car   

An emergency car kit is an important part of a proper hurricane safety plan. Include items such as:

• Bottled water

• Nonperishable food

• First-aid kit

• Flashlights

• Extra batteries

• Blankets

• Medication(s) 

• Portable charger for your mobile devices

• Local and highway maps for navigation if digital systems fail 

Monitor weather updates and evacuation routes

The dynamic nature of hurricanes means being well-informed can significantly impact your ability to respond effectively. Stay current on the latest weather developments, heed advisories from local authorities, know your evacuation routes and monitor updates to ensure you have the latest information.

After the Storm

Assess and document damage

Thorough documentation is crucial when filing a claim with your insurance company. Once the hurricane has passed, immediately assess your vehicle for any damage. Create a thorough record of the condition of your vehicle:

• Take extensive photos and videos of your car from various angles, focusing on damaged areas. Close-up shots are particularly useful for detailing the extent of the damage.
• In addition to visual records, take detailed notes describing the damage, including the date and time you noticed it. This is vital for ensuring the accuracy of your insurance claim.

In severely impacted areas, restoration companies might employ advanced technologies like drone-assisted assessments to document affected vehicles, although this is more common for property and structural assessments.

Reviewing your car insurance

Understanding your car insurance policy and coverage for flood damage after a hurricane can help safeguard you from financial loss.

• Review your policy to check for comprehensive coverage. This typically covers hurricane damage, including flood damage. Comprehensive coverage is different from collision coverage.
• Be aware of the specifics of your coverage, such as the deductible amount, which is the out-of-pocket expense you must pay before insurance coverage begins.
• If you live in a hurricane-prone state, ensure your insurance is in place well before hurricane season to avoid moratoriums that prevent changes or new policies when a storm is imminent.
• If filing a claim, have your policy documentation ready, including your policy number and contact information for your insurance agent or company’s claim line.

Being proactive in assessing vehicle damage and understanding your car insurance coverage post-hurricane can streamline the claims process, allowing for a more efficient pathway to recovery and repair for your vehicle.Hurricane season, spanning June through November, is a crucial time for those in hurricane-prone areas to prepare for potential impacts. Preparing your car for a hurricane is an essential part of disaster readiness, ensuring post-storm mobility and protecting your vehicle from unnecessary damage.

Maximizing vehicle protection during a hurricane

With hurricane threats peaking in August and September, early and proactive measures are vital for your vehicle’s safety. Following these steps can protect your car and provide peace of mind during a stressful period.

Despite thorough preparations, some damage may occur. Always assess your vehicle carefully post-storm, document any damage and review your insurance police for hurricane-related coverage.