It's your key survival tool and maybe temporary home if you have to flee a threatening storm, so keep it prepared for the worst.
By MARTY CLEAR
Published September 9, 2005
Every summer, Floridians are warned of the dangers of hurricanes. This year, because of Katrina and the spate of storms in 2004, people are paying more attention.
It's no exaggeration to say that a well-maintained and well-stocked car could be the difference between life and death if a major hurricane strikes.
If you have to evacuate, you'll probably be in heavy traffic for many miles. Mechanics and tow trucks will be busy. In fact, the people who own and staff garages may have evacuated also, and assistance may be almost impossible to come by.
Even if the Tampa Bay area isn't evacuating, drivers from other parts of Florida may be coming this way. The extra traffic, combined with nasty weather, can make for long waits for tow trucks.
"We strongly advise everyone to make sure they have a well-charged cell phone when they evacuate," said Gregg Laskoski, a spokesman for AAA Auto Club South. "But you should make sure that all the regular maintenance, all the stuff you tend to put off, is taken care of. You don't want to be calling for emergency road service during an evacuation because of a tire."
Tires are vital car parts that are easily overlooked in the rush of preparations for a hurricane. But experts say some pretty easy and inexpensive steps could help keep you safe and mobile, whether you're evacuating or staying put.
Andy Mather, the manager of Mr. Tire on Hillsborough Avenue, advises drivers to make sure their tires are properly inflated and have good tread. It's basic advice, of course, but it's especially important during the rainy season.
One tire that's easy to overlook is the spare.
"It just sits back there and you never check it so it can leak out slowly," Mather said.
It's best to keep a full-sized spare, Mather said, but a donut is adequate. In fact, in an evacuation, a donut may be preferable because you may need every square inch of trunk space for other emergency supplies.
While you're checking your spare tire, make sure you have a working jack and lug wrench, and make sure you know how to use them.
A couple of cans of Fix-a-Flat or a similar product, a tire repair kit and a small air pump that plugs into your cigarette lighter will only cost a few bucks and won't take up much trunk space. There's likely to be a lot of debris on the road during a hurricane, and any of those products can help get you to safety if you puncture a tire.
Laskoski said AAA Auto Club South advises drivers to carry an empty gas can. Avoid the temptation to keep a full can; the danger from fumes far outweigh the advantages of an extra gallon or two.
Because getting road service may be problematic, Laskoski advises that during storm season it's wise to have jumper cables. But be careful when you have to jump a battery; if the ground is wet, working with electricity is especially hazardous.
One item that's easily overlooked in storm season is the garage door. Power outages are common, even during routine thunderstorms, so electric garage doors obviously won't work.
Most garage door openers have a cord that allows the door to be opened manually. But older people or even small people may not have the strength to open the door by themselves, and neighbors may not be around to help.
So it's a good idea to park your car outside if you can't open the door manually, Laskoski said.
Whether you're evacuating or not, you're likely to come across some deep puddles. Mechanics advise to avoid driving through them if at all possible. Drive around them even if it will take you a few blocks out of your way.
Water doesn't have to be especially deep to do damage. If it reaches the middle of your hubcaps, it's probably deep enough to get into your exhaust system or even into your car's interior.
It will usually go higher inside your engine compartment than outside your car, because it's an enclosed space. And the fans on your engine can spray water around and potentially foul your spark plugs or cause short circuits.
And if your car stalls because water gets into the engine, or even if it gets exposed to flood waters while it's parked, you shouldn't try to start it. An advisory from Advance Auto Parts says drivers should have the car checked by a mechanic to make sure there's no electrical damage and that the airbags won't deploy. You should then replace all the vehicle's fluids.
In an evacuation, AAA Auto Club South advises drivers to consider their cars their temporary home.
"You don't know with 100 percent certainty that you'll be coming back to the home you left," Laskoski said. "So you should take essential papers, insurance policies, both home and auto, and any other irreplaceable items, including family photos. Keep them in an appropriate watertight container."
