Learning where to park car during hurricane is important, as failing to take the right steps could cost you big money.
If you have ever lived in a hurricane-prone location, you know that being well-prepared can save you a lot of money.
However, you should know that there are measures you can do to safeguard your vehicle against the onslaught of a storm.
Mostly, you need to pay attention to a few points to decide where to park your car during a hurricane.
Park your car in a garage or go for public garages if you do not have one in your property and do not forget to cover it properly.
Getting Your Car Ready Before a Hurricane
You need to consider a few things when you are trying to protect your vehicle during a hurricane.
For instance:
Safeguard Vital Vehicle Data
Before the storm hits, get everything of value out of your car and put it in a plastic bag, including:
- The registration of your car
- Your insurance documents
- Your car keys
Even better, get duplicates made of everything and put them somewhere dry and safe so you can go back on the road as soon as the storm passes.
Put Some Gas in the Car
If you have no gas but your car keys and registration, you will not get very far, will you?
During and after hurricanes, gas stations often run low on supplies.
Therefore, filling up your tank before a hurricane will come in useful if there is a shortage after the storm has passed
Fact: When hurricane Irma hit Ft. Lauderdale and Gainesville, over 60% of gas stations were left without fuel.
Keep the Tires Flat
If you want to keep your car from floating away in the event of a flood, deflating the tires is a good idea.
Of course, you probably should not do that unless you also have a way to get your tires filled up again.
Snap Some Pics of Your Ride
Take lots of pictures of your car’s inside and outside before the storm hits.
You can save a lot of money on repairs if your car ends up getting severely damaged in the storm and you have these images to prove it.
Seal the Cracks with Tape
Be sure to seal your windows in a crisscross pattern with masking tape once you have parked your car safely.
This can prevent salt water from penetrating your car and causing extensive damage to the interior.
Where to Park Car During Hurricane?
When parking car during hurricane, you need to consider a few important factors first.
There are many ways to keep a car safe during a hurricane. You can park on the street or in a large, open parking lot, but that is about all.
It is not cool that you are leaving your car out in the rain.
Before you decide to park your car, here are a few things to remember:
Elevation
You should consider elevation while trying to find the safest area to park in during a hurricane.
Flat, low-lying locations take the brunt of storms. Sudden tides and flood waters might potentially wash away your vehicle.
Water, muck, and sludge can damage your car’s paint and corrode expensive components. Sludge in the engine can cause thousands of dollars in repairs.
Therefore, you should look for a parking spot that is up high.
If you live near the coast or any body of water, taking your car to a higher elevation can help protect it against flooding and erosion.
Surroundings
The environment is an important consideration. Get your vehicle as far away from trees and power wires as possible before a hurricane hits.
Strong gale gusts might potentially uproot trees. A falling tree is a major risk if flash floods remove the soil from around its roots.
The same holds true for power cables. Metal and high voltage electricity make up the bulk of electrical wires and signal towers.
Getting too close could result in electrocution or other bodily injury. Stay away from tall objects and exposed structures during storms.
Few Options to Consider to Park Car During Hurricane
Keeping the above-mentioned points in mind, you can actually find a number of options to park your car.
For instance:
Park Indoors
When a hurricane is in the area, the best location to keep your car is inside.
The safest place for an automobile is inside a garage or other secure, weather-proof building.
If you normally keep things in your garage, but a storm is on the way, you should make room for your automobile.
Fact: Your car will be safe from the elements, including rain, snow, and even flood water, if you park it in an enclosed garage.
Pick Commercial Garages
If you do not have a garage on your property, you may want to look into a commercial parking garage.
It is common practice to construct such buildings to resist hurricanes and other violent storms.
It is a good idea to call ahead and make sure a commercial garage will accept your vehicle during a hurricane before leaving it there.
If you want to avoid getting your car wet, it is best to park in an elevated garage.
Park on Higher Ground
Keep your vehicle elevated, as hurricanes frequently bring excessive rainfall that can cause flooding.
Parking your automobile on higher ground can help safeguard it from flooding if you live in a flood-prone location.
Keep in mind that even minor flood damage can completely destroy a vehicle.
Park Away from Trees
As covered already, park your vehicle away from any overhead power lines or trees if you must park outside during a hurricane.
Do not jeopardize your life by parking under a tree or next to a power line.
Strong winds can rip limbs from trees, snap power lines, and cause other hazards that could severely harm your car.
Park Against a Building
You can accomplish two things at once by parking your car up against a building in a city or other densely populated region during a hurricane.
The structure blocks the wind, protecting your car from flying objects and making it less likely that they would collide with it during a storm.
On the other hand, the overhang of a building may shield its occupants from rain and reduce the severity of any water damage.
What to Keep in Mind?
There are dangers inherent in this approach, though.
It is important to be aware of the possibility of falling objects, especially in older or badly maintained buildings.
Make sure there are no rogue shingles, tiles, or other debris lying around that could fly around in the wind during a storm.
Choose well-maintained, modern structures and avoid parking beneath windows or shaky edifice elements.
Fact: Make sure nothing is hanging loose in the area around your car's parking spot, such as lawn furniture, trash cans, and yard tools.
Other Options to Consider
Besides considering the basic options to park your car, you can also try other strategies to safeguard your vehicle.
Use Car Covers
While not a way to protect your car, these covers help reduce the risk of damage to your vehicle from flying debris, which is common during hurricanes.
The best car covers for storms are made from tough stuff that can take a beating without getting torn up.
These may be custom-fitted to your make and model of the vehicle and typically have padding for increased comfort and protection.
If you cannot access professional covers, you can always use anything from home, such as a thick blanket or an old mattress.
While they will not prevent injuries from large projectiles, they might minimize the severity of injuries from smaller ones.
Fact: It is important to properly fasten covers to your vehicle so that they do not fly away in the event of strong winds
Try Group Parking
If at all possible, park near other vehicles.
It is paradoxical, but the idea is that the cars around you can block the wind and keep debris from crashing into your vehicle.
Consider Evacuating
If you reside in a hurricane-prone zone or a particularly vulnerable place, consider evacuating. If you can, move your automobile to a more secure area before the storm hits.
Takeaway
Learning where to park a car during hurricane can help safeguard your investment.
It is no rocket science but look for a higher ground and park close to a building, if, of course, you cannot park in a garage.
And if everything else fails, consider evacuating and taking your vehicle away from the danger zone.
