Hurricane season is here. If you live in Houston or anywhere along the Gulf and Atlantic coastline, review your plan or make a new one.
Many people don’t take the time to prepare for the possibility of a hurricane in Houston. Precautions and other preparations can help protect their used car for severe weather.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts up to three major hurricanes during the season. That’s a slightly better than average outlook because of the recent passage of La Niña.
That said, it’s impossible to predict the future. No matter what the hurricane season presents to Houston drivers, hurricane preparedness is a prudent idea. In this post, we consider hurricane preparedness for your vehicle.
How to Prepare Your Car for Hurricane Season
Hurricanes and other severe weather are unpredictable. The sudden turn of a hurricane can leave you and those you love without enough time to evacuate.
Many times, Houston drivers can get their vehicles out of the immediate danger zone but still get damage from the storm. Ensure that your car is ready for a hurricane by servicing it regularly and create a game plan ahead of time.
Use these hurricane preparedness tips now.
(1) Park your vehicle properly.
Park your car in a sturdy and safe enclosure when possible. Secure a parking space in a parking garage in greater Houston or put your vehicle under your residence’s car port.
- Whatever you do, don’t park the vehicle under a tree. In a windstorm, the tree can lose its larger branches.
- Avoid parking adjacent to already loose debris if you must stay put. In high winds, the debris will blow into your vehicle and cause damage.
- When possible, choose a parking area at a higher elevation. This decision can help to keep your vehicle from being submerged in water. Lower areas collect the storm’s downpour.
(2) Tape your car windows.
Tape the car windows by making an “X” or “#” shape. Although taping the windows doesn’t prevent the window glass from breaking in a hurricane or other severe weather, it just simplifies the task of cleaning the broken glass later.
(3) Remove valuable items from your car.
Remove any item that’s important to you from the car prior to the storm. Make this a regular part of preparing for severe weather. You don’t know whether your vehicle will be damaged in a hurricane. Strong winds and water can expose valuables in your car to the elements.
(4) Fill up the tank.
Houston drivers know that gas might be scarce during a hurricane or severe storm. Top up your tank as soon as possible or make it your mission to keep it as full as possible at all times, during hurricane season. Take this step even if you don’t plan to evacuate because circumstances may change. You might need to leave the area to avoid the hurricane.
(5) Keep your vehicle running smoothly.
Do this now.
Regular maintenance will keep your vehicle running smoothly. Make sure you bring your vehicle in for oil changes. Rotate your tires. Follow your vehicle owner’s manual checklist to the letter. This step should be an important part of a hurricane preparedness plan. Make sure you’re ready for hurricane season.
If you’ve been less vigilant about maintenance, schedule an appointment to check tire pressure, fluid levels, windshield wipers, air conditioning, spare tire, seat belts, and other vehicle maintenance essentials. Remember: if you need to evacuate during a Houston hurricane, everything in your vehicle must be in good working order.
(6) Realize that just one major storm can be devastating.
Unlike most natural disasters, hurricanes usually give us sufficient advance warning. In Houston, we expect hurricanes during the six-month period (June 1 – November 30). We usually have sufficient time to prepare for them.
(7) Stock up on hurricane and severe weather supplies.
Last minute plans to leave your home can result in overpacking your bags. Ensure that there’s room in your car trunk by placing a box of emergency gear in it. Add a couple of cans of Fix-a-Flat, jumper cables, tool kit, tire jack, radio with batteries, flashlights with batteries, first aid, motor oil, first aid kit, gas canister, antifreeze, road flares, food and water, and more to your emergency box. Check out Ready.gov’s Make a Plan page for other ideas.
If you don’t already have roadside assistance, consider it now. Although having roadside assistance doesn’t mean that the tow truck arrives any faster, you have the assurance it will arrive.
(8) Pack light. Prepare for evacuation.
Each hurricane varies in size, intensity, speed, and additional factors. Preparation should vary as well. Make a list of what you’ll need if evacuation is necessary, e.g. medications, medical records, pet essentials, homeowner insurance policies, electronic devices and chargers, etc. Keep important phone numbers stored in your phone or mobile device and sync your data in the cloud to retrieve in a computer crash. Backing up your hard drive in the cloud is also a good idea.
Scan family photos and save them to Dropbox or Google Drive. Put other valuables in a safe deposit box. You’ll be able to retrieve them if the need to evacuate presents.
Do check your auto insurance policy hurricane damage coverage. Inquire about what’s covered in the event your vehicle is damaged by the hurricane. If necessary, learn how to submit a claim to your auto insurance carrier.
(9) Don’t plan to take everything.
Most people accumulate a lot of “stuff.” Some belongings are financially valuable. Others have sentimental value. The bottom line, though, is you can’t take everything if evacuation is necessary.
Photograph your belongings and provide these pictures to your insurance agent. This step creates a record in the event that your home or vehicle is flooded.
(10) Talk with family members and friends.
Part of your hurricane preparedness plan should include a talk with your family. Thinking about a Houston evacuation isn’t pleasant, and some members of your family might say this is an unnecessary step.
Do take it seriously. Ask your family what they’d need to pack if evacuation is necessary. As above, limit the number of items each family member plans to bring along (e.g., each member of the family has one small suitcase).
Talk with extended family members, including children living away from home, parents, uncles, and aunts (or family members in a rehabilitation center or nursing home) about your hurricane preparedness plans. Encourage everyone to prepare. Make sure he or she has a way out of town.
Check in with friends. If they don’t own a car or don’t have a reliable vehicle, it may be time to help your friends buy a reliable used car to make sure they’re covered.
(11) Plan the evacuation route.
Plan at least two evacuation routes. If you live along the Gulf Coast, plan a safe haven exit to the east. In Houston, you should plan to move north or south.
Contact out-of-town friends now. Plan to ride out the storm in a friend’s guest room or make hotel reservations. You’ll need to move a minimum of 200 miles from the storm eyewall.
Your Car and Hurricane Preparedness
In the event of a Houston hurricane, stay up-to-date with reports from the National Hurricane Center and local news stations to verify safe operating conditions for your vehicle.
Keep fresh water on hand. It’s necessary for drinking and vehicle maintenance. Keep at least 3L, about 0.8 gallon/per person per day.
Don’t mishandle gasoline. Don’t inhale it or allow contact with your skin. Take care to avoid spilling volatile gasoline. Keep it in a cool and ventilated area, not inside your garage or within your home.
Don’t drive in a hurricane unless it’s necessary. Your car could be swept away in just one foot of water. Don’t drive in a flooded street. Estimate depth of the water. After driving through water, gently dry the brakes by gently depressing the brake while simultaneously depressing the gas pedal to maintain speed.
Check out Shabana Motors’ fine used car inventory if you or a loved one needs a reliable used car now.
