The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is well underway, ending by November 30th 2021. This hurricane season is already busy, with subtropical Storm Ana forming over a week before the official start of the season which is June 1st. Tropical Storm Claudette made landfall and caused 14 deaths when it came ashore in Louisiana on June 14th. Claudette produced heavy rains and tornadoes across the southeast. 10 people lost their lives in one car crash due to wet roads caused by Tropical Storm Claudette.
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Hurricanes have winds of 74 mph or higher, major ones have winds of 111 mph or higher
Florida and Texas have the most hurricanes
For 2021, the NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting between 13 to 20 named storms, of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes, including 3 to 5 major ones: Category 3, 4, or 5. This year’s tropical cyclone names include Danny, Ida, Rose, and Wanda. The areas covered include the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Florida, Texas, South Carolina, New York, and Virginia are among the top 10 states with hurricanes.
In 2020, 297 hurricanes made landfall in the U.S. 120 hit Florida alone, meaning the Sunshine State is affected by 40% of all hurricanes
Hurricane preparedness for home and business
Many preparations are made prior to a storm that could potentially become a hurricane. Residents install or close their hurricane shutters to avoid debris from flying through the windows. Small businesses layer up sandbags by their entrance doors to stop the rain water from getting in and flooding their business. Hospitals are on high alert, canned goods, emergency kits, and water flies off the shelves, and so on.
But what about driving? How does hurricane preparedness look like for your vehicle, and for driving safely through inclement and potentially dangerous weather?
Hurricanes can spawn tornadoes, landslides, and floods. If you’re in a hurricane’s path, take precautions to ensure a safe evacuation and return
Preparing your car, SUV or pickup truck
Driving tips for hurricane preparedness starts with the safety of your vehicle. As soon as you know a storm is brewing, take care of your car. Make sure your gas tank is full, tires are inflated properly, and your battery is in working order. Keep all vehicle and driving documents with you such as your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and manual. Put all the paperwork in a plastic bag to keep them safe and dry should they come in contact with water.
If you’re evacuating and leaving a vehicle behind, don’t leave it in a low-lying area prone to flooding since rising water can create damage
Don’t forget extra supplies to leave in the car
Have a flashlight, extra batteries, a change of clothes, a first-aid kit, and dry snacks in the car. You may not plan on leaving your home or local area, however a rapid change of weather can result in having to evacuate. So you’ll be ready and more likely to avoid long lines at the gas pump or be stuck in traffic jams. Hurricane preparedness means you can leave earlier. If you have small children, make sure you pack essentials for them. The same with pets.
Don’t drive over downed electrical lines or flooded streets
Avoid flooded streets, and never drive in submerged water. Underlying currents could carry your car away, stalling it, and trapping you in floodwaters that keep rising. Don’t driving in deep water, even if you’re right in the middle of it, turn around instead.
Six inches of water is enough to hit the bottom of your vehicle, it can flood the exhaust leaving you with no car to drive. SUVs aren’t big enough to drive through flooded streets either. Less than one foot of water will float your vehicle. Two feet can sweep most vehicles away even a pickup truck.
During flood conditions, the safest part of the road is the center since the water is most shallow there
If the car floods, don’t restart your engine
It can severely damage your vehicle which can lead to having to strip the engine and that can take over 5 hours of work. You have to remove the plugs and injectors before starting the car again. If you’re caught in the flood and your vehicle won’t move, just exit the car instead and call for towing assistance. The flooded engine can result in just the ignition getting wet, or worse water got sucked in and hydrolocked a cylinder. In other words, your car’s engine has locked up.
According to the National Hurricane Center, over half of all hurricane deaths in the past three decades resulted from inland flooding—one in four people drowned in a car
Drive slowly
If you must cross water while driving, enter at 1 or 2 mph then drive at 3 or 4mph to avoid engine flooding. If there are other vehicles with you on the road, take turns and create a single lane. Cars in front will help move water out of the way resulting in better tire traction for vehicles behind.
Once out of the wet pavement, dry your brakes by braking lightly while driving slow. Just 15 cm of water at any speed can cause you to lose control. So you should never cross water that rises above the center of your wheels, even puddles.