How to Prepare Your Car For a Hurricane
Charleston, hold onto your hats, because peak hurricane season is just around the corner.
If the storm gets crazy and you need to evacuate, make sure your family and your vehicle are ready to go.
Read our 5 tips on how to prepare your car for a hurricane:
1. Take Your Car For Maintenance
The last thing you need when you’re trying to leave in a hurry is a vehicle malfunction. Take your car in for maintenance and ask them to check the spare tire, belts, fluid levels, tire pressure, lights, steering and suspension, wipers and washers, plus all the other essentials.
Once they make any necessary fixes you can rest easy, knowing your car is ready to hit the road at a moment’s notice.
2. Stock Up On Car Supplies
Now that the mechanical side of your car is in perfect working order, it’s time to think about what supplies you might need to keep it that way.
Pack anti-freeze, road flares, jumper cables, a gas canister and anything else that might come in useful on your journey. Oh, and make sure you fill that tank!
3. List Your Essentials
If an evacuation happens you won’t have long to pack, so be ready with a list of essentials, like medicines, snacks, electronic devices and their respective chargers, insurance documents and maybe even some games for when you inevitably get stuck in traffic.
Keep your list in a safe (and memorable) place, and consider writing the location of each item, too. Divide responsibility for retrieving them between your family and make sure everybody is clear on their specific jobs.
4. Plan Your Evacuation Route
Grab a map and plan an exit strategy. Speak to friends and family members who are able to provide refuge, then plot the most efficient route to their house.
Keep the directions in your glove compartment for safe keeping.
5. Store Your Vehicle
Protect your car from flying debris by storing it in a garage. If that’s not possible, try to avoid parking it near trees or power lines that might come crashing down. A tall building will provide some shelter from the elements.
Once you’ve safely ridden out the hurricane, bring your car to In & Out, and we’ll restore it to its pre-storm glory!
