How To Prepare Your Vehicle For A Hurricane
If you live on the eastern seaboard of North America, you know how devastating hurricanes can be. In recent years, hurricanes have been increasing in frequency and damage caused by hurricanes has been extensive. Over the last decade, several years have seen over five hurricanes, and 2005 saw fifteen hurricanes alone. If you want your car to survive the flooding and wind damage caused by hurricanes, follow this guide on how to prepare your vehicle for the next hurricane.
Keep Your Car Full Of Fuel
At the first sign of a hurricane, fill your car with whatever type of fuel it takes. Gasoline is one of the first items to sell out during the build-up to a hurricane, and unless you want your car to be stranded, you better stock up ahead of time. Keeping a backup gas can in the garage isn’t a bad idea, but might not be enough to get out of the way of the storm. Plan ahead and keep your tank full whenever hurricanes might occur.
Keep Paper Maps
Now that cell phones and wi-fi have become ubiquitous, very few people actually keep paper maps in their cars anymore. If you have to drive during an emergency like a hurricane, you need to know how to get wherever you are going. However, when a hurricane disrupts electrical and telecommunication grids, Google Maps will no longer be able to guide you to the nearest hospital. Keeping paper maps of your city and state or province will ensure you know where you’re going even when all the other GPS-addicted drivers are going in circles.
Keep Car Chargers Stocked
While most people focus on the storm itself when preparing for a hurricane, the aftermath can be just as difficult to weather. Many people have to flee their homes during or after hurricanes, and one’s car can suddenly become one’s home. Make sure your car is prepared to be your home base if you fear a hurricane might be approaching. Keeping your car stocked with all the chargers you need ensures you can charge and continue to use your vital mobile devices even if the electrical grid is disrupted by a storm.
Tape Your Windows
Car windows are some of the most commonly damaged items during a hurricane. Storm force winds can send debris flying at speeds high enough to break car windows or windshields. In order to protect your car from broken glass and make cleanup easier in the event of a broken window, cover the entire inside of your car’s windows and windshields with masking or packaging tape. That way, any broken glass will stay in one place as opposed to flying in every direction and potentially damaging the rest of your car.
