TIPS TO PREPARE YOUR VEHICLE FOR HURRICANE SEASON

It’s hurricane season here in Florida. Hurricanes bring torrential rain and strong winds. Therefore, it is important to be prepared in case one does come your way.

These storms can cause damage to not only your home but your vehicle, too. Certain steps must be taken to protect your vehicle from an approaching storm. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for hurricane season:

Assemble An Emergency Kit.

You may not have roadside assistance. Even if you do, a car emergency kit can come in handy in the case of an emergency. When preparing for a storm, pack your trunk full of items that will aid you if an unexpected situation were to arise. You could even keep these items in your vehicle after hurricane season comes to an end. Here are a few items to include:

• Jumper cables
• Gas canister – strap to outside of vehicle
• Tool kit
• Tire jack
• Flashlight with batteries
• Radio with batteries
• Blanket
• First aid kit
• Water/Snacks
• Car charger for your cell phone

Fill Up The Tank.

If you know of an approaching hurricane, fuel up the tank ahead of time. You can also fill up a gas canister, just in case. It can be difficult to get to a gas station if you wait. Along certain routes, supply may be limited. You may encounter long lines and stations completely out of gas. The sooner you fill up, the better off you will be. 

Complete Car Maintenance.

You should be keeping up with car maintenance all year long. However, not everyone does. As you are preparing for a hurricane, it is even more important to ensure your vehicle is in good running condition. If an evacuation is required you will rely on your car to get you to a safe location. Check the car’s fluid levels. This would include oil, transmission, brake, power steering, coolant, and windshield wiper fluids. In addition, you should check the vehicle’s belts, tires, and battery. If you do not feel comfortable performing these maintenance tasks, bring it to us here at All Car Shop. The last thing you need is to break down along the escape route. 

Park In A Safe Area.                                   

Park your car in a garage, if you have one. Back the vehicle into the garage. This way it will make it easier and faster to get the vehicle out in the case of an evacuation. If you do not happen to have a garage, park away from trees, power lines, light poles, and other things that could fall onto your vehicle and cause damage.Keep in mind, if there are down power lines they could still be live, so avoid at all costs. 

Know Your Evacuation Route

 You will want to map out the evacuation route ahead of time. Pay attention to the distance between gas stations and hotels. Traffic jams occur frequently and you may be sitting for hours on end. It’s a good idea to have a physical map of the state, so you can plan alternate routes even if you lose cell service. 

Hurricanes are unpredictable, making it difficult to plan ahead and often leads to last minute evacuations. The best thing to do is have a hurricane preparedness kit ready to go. Never drive through standing water, and tell others your travel plans and planned route. For more tips and advise you can visit The National Hurricane site.