Houston was reminded this year what a severe hurricane was like, and many people ended up sustaining damage to their homes and cars. Cars are an essential part of people’s lives, and with the hurricane damage and loss, many were left without a working vehicle. So, what do you do when a hurricane is forecasted? How can you keep your major investments safe? Here are a few ways to prepare your car for a hurricane.
Make Sure Your Vehicle is Up-To-Date on Maintenance
If your vehicle isn’t on a regular car maintenance schedule, it probably should be. Maintenance is essential for helping your vehicle to run properly, ensure its efficiency and extend its lifespan. While maintenance may seem costly, it is often less than a major repair would be in the future due to improper care. When purchasing a car, it’s helpful to add in maintenance costs to your expected monthly costs. Here are some things you should make sure have been done before a hurricane hits:
- Fluid check
- Oil change
- Wiper check/replacement
- Belt inspection
- Tire/air inspection
- Read through your manual if you want to know what you should maintain on a regular basis and make sure your current on all maintenance
If you want to know how to set up a regular maintenance schedule, read this.
Contact Your Auto Insurance Company
Do you know if your car is covered if it gets damaged in a hurricane? If you don’t, you should make a call to your insurance carrier. Ask them what steps you’d need to take to make a claim if something happens, and if you don’t have coverage, ask if you are able to add it and what the cost would be. If it is reasonable, it may be worth it to you to have that peace of mind. Another great idea is to take pictures of the interior and exterior of your vehicle before the storm. That way, you have documentation should something happen.
Prep Your Car for Evacuation
If you end up evacuating, you want to be prepared for that. The most important thing is gas. Know that once the storm hits, the pumps will either be flooded with people or shut down. Fill up ahead of time, and don’t be hesitant to have some backup as well. Other things you can do are:
- Invest in an emergency road kit
- Stock car with food, water, blankets and a first aid kit
- Place things in waterproof packaging or containers
- Check your route and have a map ready to go
- Be prepared to take your pets with you by having carriers and supplies for them
- Have a backup plan in case you can’t get out [Note: you should never try and drive in rising water]
Other Tips for Keeping Your Car Safe During a Hurricane
Hopefully your car won’t have to endure the weather, but should it happen, here are some other things to do, or not to do:
Remove anything from your car that isn’t permanent – Remove things like antennas, magnets, valuables inside your car—basically, anything not attached.
Keep your car garaged or covered – Not everyone has a garage, but if you do, and it’s not usable for vehicles, it’s time for a major cleanout. You want to be able to put your car in the safest place possible, and that is under some kind of cover.
Don’t put your car up on blocks, jacks or other unstable surfaces – Hurricane force winds have been known to knock cars right off of blocks and cause even more damage.
Don’t park near water – Creeks, ponds, lakes and any body of water is sure to rise during a hurricane. Keep your car away from those areas.
Don’t hesitate to shell out money for a public garage when necessary – If you are able to find a long-term (or multi-day) parking situation, go ahead and use it. It may make a huge difference in protecting your car and be worth the cost.
Know your car’s dimensions – At what height does your car take water into the engine? This is an important number to know: your car’s air intake height. Find out before the floods so you don’t drive into water too deep for your vehicle.
It’s not always comfortable thinking about what could happen in a hurricane, but it is crucial to be prepared. Make sure you and your car are ready for when the next hurricane hits.
