June to November comes quickly every year, and we all hope we are ready for that season to come every year. We also hope that the hurricane season will not be bad every year as well. Even though we know that time is happening every year, we need to have our vehicles ready and safe. So here are 5 simple ways to protect your car in hurricane season.
Do I need to change my oil?
During a hurricane evacuation is the worst time for your vehicle to be out of commission. You need to have your car in tip-top condition just in case you and your family get evacuated. This is not the time to stay and try to wait it out; emergency services said it’s time to go you need to go. To be able to do this, we need to make sure our vehicle is operational, so before that day gets here, let’s go over your car to make sure we are ready.
Check out this article that I wrote for things we need to keep under observation for all of our maintenance checks. This list will give you an idea of things we need to check so you and your family will be safe during this 
time. Also, you can always check the back of your operator’s manual, which usually has a maintenance checklist.
Check out this maintenance record pdf that I made for you to use. Remember to date the maintenance record as well, so you know when is the last time you checked that component and what the status of that part is when you checked it.
You will be surprised by this one here’s my article on 12 Crucial Maintenance Things to Check on your Vehicle.
Cover, it is all About Cover
Hurricane winds at a minimum are 74 mph fast which if you want to know how quick that is, stick your head out the window while going down the highway. In a category five hurricane, though winds can get up to 156 mph, that is very quick and has enough power to push you back and forth.
When these winds get that fast, the wind itself is not the worst threat to your safety. It is the debris that the winds carry around that are the real threat to your security.
If we are worried about our safety, you can best believe that our vehicles well being is at risk as well. When it comes to guarding your car against these types of winds, we need to find a stable and secure spot for our vehicle.
A garage has always been a good place, but an even better place is a concrete structure. A great example of that type of construction would be a parking garage that is above the surface or behind a wall.
Autotrader even agrees with finding a stable and secure building to park beside to protect against the winds. If you were to park your vehicle in your garage, your car would be at risk if the winds were to start damaging the garage structure.
Prevent yourself from being stranded on the highway with an overheated vehicle. Here’s my article on How often should I replace my car’s thermostat?
What is the Gas Price?
Have you ever noticed when a significant storm front is coming in that the gas prices start to go up? That is why the government has to put a price freeze on all fuel prices during a major storm because people will start to gouge the costs to make an extra buck. But have you seen the lines to get fuel and groceries before a storm?
We do not want to wait for the storm to be here to decide we need fuel in our vehicle. Make sure your vehicle’s fuel is topped up, and you are ready to leave if you have to. You must think ahead when getting your family prepared for a hurricane.
So if you need fuel, an oil change, air in your tires, or snacks for the road you need to pick these up days in advance not the day of the storm or the day before. Traffic congestion increases your chances of being in a traffic accident while being evacuated from the area.
You also need to plan your evacuation route and watch your speed. It is in the first ten minutes of the rain that you have a higher chance of hydroplaning due to the oils built upon the road.
Take my picture!
Well maybe I wasn’t talking about taking a selfie, but you need to take a picture of your vehicle before the storm. It wasn’t too long ago that I lost my Ford Fusion due to floodwaters that came before the brunt of the storm. The crazy part is that the hurricane was not that bad, but due to drainage issues in our neighborhood that year, I lost the vehicle.
So that only shows how important it is to take pictures of the inside and outside of your vehicle. Just in case anything happens to your car, you can prove to the insurance company that your vehicle was operational and in an excellent running condition before the storm hit.
Winter is coming, and we need to be ready for it, make sure your vehicle is prepared by checking out my article 6 Simple Ways to Stay Safe on Snow Covered Roads. You will be glad you did!
Let’s go for a Drive!
Going for a joyride can be a deadly decision for you, your family, and your vehicle. Going for a drive before or after a hurricane is a brown bag special, you do not know what is out there. There could be flooded roads, downed power lines, fallen trees, or even bigger debris just out there on the road.
So the best decision during this time is, do not travel unless you have to. Staying off the road gives time for emergency services to do their job and to keep everyone safe by returning any damaged utility to its safe operating status as before.
Even though you are curious to see how your neighborhood fared from the
storm. Please wait and consider staying inside for the first 48 hours after the storm.
The CDC says their goal is to start a clean up after a hurricane within the first 24-48 hours after the storm.
Just seeing the steps, we can take to keep ourselves, and our families safe seems easy enough. On average hurricanes take 17 lives and cause 60 injuries every year according to the research done by Texas Tech University. The most common thing that kills people in hurricanes if the Carbon Monoxide from their portable generators.
The CDC advises everyone to keep their generator a minimum of 20 feet away from your home. Here is a generator safety fact sheet from the CDC. So with everything that can harm us in a hurricane the best advice for us to follow would be to be ready for the storm ahead of time and if you are told to evacuate, then make sure you leave. Stay safe out there and let’s be prepared this year.
Thank you again for checking out my article! I hope it helped you with your problem and you found it to be beneficial. Please check out my YouTube channel to have up to date how-to video guides. Thank you again, and I hope you enjoy my next piece!
