Car Safety Checklist: What to Do Before a Hurricane Hits

Fill up or charge up. If your area loses power for days, it may be essential to drive to a shelter or travel to obtain services. When thousands of other people also need a hotel, the distance you must drive could be considerable. And in the end, you may end up sleeping in your car.

While an electric car can be plugged into a home charger or wall outlet well in advance, it’s more difficult with a gas-powered car. People may overwhelm local gas stations in advance of a storm, so plan to fill up as early as you can.

You may be tempted to fill up gas containers and bring them with you on your trip. This isn’t safe to do in a car or SUV, or even with a pickup truck that has an open bed:

• You can be exposed to and breathe in harmful gas fumes.
• The fumes are flammable and can ignite.
• In the event of a crash, the containers will pose a significant safety and fire risk.

It’s best to fill a gas container, top off your fuel tank just before evacuating your home, and then drive at a reasonable speed as best you can to conserve fuel.

Document your belongings. This goes for your car as well as your home. According to Mercury Insurance, take photos or videos of your vehicle(s) as well as your home and major items before a storm in case you need to prove that it caused the damage.

Check the car windows. If you’re leaving one of your vehicles at home, remember this simple but important tip: Make sure all windows and the sunroof are closed tightly.

Park on high ground. This will help reduce the risk of flooding. A water-damaged car is an expensive, disappointing boat anchor.

Protect the garage. In the South, modern homes are built to hurricane codes, with structures and even garage doors engineered to withstand harsh storms. If that’s not the case where you live, consider parking your car outside, tight against the garage door—sideways—to block high-speed winds and hopefully preserve the door’s integrity. If true hurricane-force winds break through the garage door, the storm can do serious structural damage. With an attached garage, that damage can quickly extend to the house.

Protect insurance paperwork. If possible, keep a copy of the car insurance paperwork in a zip-top bag within your go bag. If the car is damaged, don’t delay calling the insurance company for days. Chances are, you’re not alone, and the local repair shops will quickly be booked up.

Evacuate with caution. If you decide to drive away from a storm before the harsh winds arrive, drive safely. Don’t speed, especially in the rain. The faster you drive, the greater the risk of hydroplaning, when water lifts a vehicle’s tires off the road surface. And stick to major roads.

According to Myles Mitchom, spokesperson for State Farm Insurance, it’s important to avoid flooded areas, especially ones with rapid water flow. “Keep things safe and simple; reschedule your plans if you’re aware of flooding in the area,” he says. “If flooding occurs when you’re on the road, stay on high ground.” He adds that it’s important to remember not to camp or park your vehicle along streams or other water, especially when conditions are threatening.

Avoid shortcuts. They’re more likely to create problems, especially after a storm (trees down, flooding), and less likely to have emergency workers keeping the road clear. Try to limit the family to one car to minimize road congestion. And stay away from flooded areas and downed power lines.

With a bit of preparation, your car can play a key role in weathering the storm.