Hurricane tips for your car
07-02-2010, 10:44 AM
#1
Love my '09
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 1,013
Hurricane tips for your car
I got this from my insurance company because I live in a hurricane prone area, but some of the safety stuff would be applicable for everyone.
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Most people don't think about their cars during hurricane season, but your car may just be your key to safety.
If a hurricane is severe enough, you may need to use your car to get to a safer place. Make sure your car is ready for a hurricane or a possible evacuation and that you understand how to drive in severe storm conditions.
Hurricane Safety Tips
Make sure you have a full tank of gas before a storm arrives.
Store a crate in your trunk with emergency supplies:
· a first aid kit
· duct tape
· jumper cables for a dead battery
· one or two blankets
· a flashlight
· bottled water
· some sealed, shelf-stable food (like energy bars)
· some basic tools like a screwdriver and pliers
· a couple of brightly colored cloths to tie on your rear-view mirror to signal for help if you need it
Make sure you have a good spare tire.
If you're evacuating, bring your (fully charged) cell phone.
If you're evacuating or returning home after a hurricane, avoid driving through water.
The average car can be swept off the road by as little as 12" of moving water. According to the National Hurricane Center, more than half of all hurricane deaths in the last 30 years have resulted from inland flooding. Of those deaths, one in four was someone who drowned in her car. Find an alternate route.
If your vehicle stalls in deep water, you may need to restart the engine to make it to safety.
Please know, however, that restarting may cause severe damage to your engine. If you can't restart your vehicle and you become trapped in rising water, IMMEDIATELY ABANDON IT FOR HIGHER GROUND. If you're unable to get out of the vehicle safely, call 911 or get help from a passerby or someone standing on higher ground.
After you and your vehicle are out of deep water and in a safe area, depress your brakes slowly several times to help dry them out.
And remember, if you're evacuating an area and leaving your car behind, be sure it's not left in a low-lying area prone to flooding. Rising water can seep in and damage your vehicle.
--PROGRESSIVE INS.
----------
Most people don't think about their cars during hurricane season, but your car may just be your key to safety.
If a hurricane is severe enough, you may need to use your car to get to a safer place. Make sure your car is ready for a hurricane or a possible evacuation and that you understand how to drive in severe storm conditions.
Hurricane Safety Tips
Make sure you have a full tank of gas before a storm arrives.
Store a crate in your trunk with emergency supplies:
· a first aid kit
· duct tape
· jumper cables for a dead battery
· one or two blankets
· a flashlight
· bottled water
· some sealed, shelf-stable food (like energy bars)
· some basic tools like a screwdriver and pliers
· a couple of brightly colored cloths to tie on your rear-view mirror to signal for help if you need it
Make sure you have a good spare tire.
If you're evacuating, bring your (fully charged) cell phone.
If you're evacuating or returning home after a hurricane, avoid driving through water.
The average car can be swept off the road by as little as 12" of moving water. According to the National Hurricane Center, more than half of all hurricane deaths in the last 30 years have resulted from inland flooding. Of those deaths, one in four was someone who drowned in her car. Find an alternate route.
If your vehicle stalls in deep water, you may need to restart the engine to make it to safety.
Please know, however, that restarting may cause severe damage to your engine. If you can't restart your vehicle and you become trapped in rising water, IMMEDIATELY ABANDON IT FOR HIGHER GROUND. If you're unable to get out of the vehicle safely, call 911 or get help from a passerby or someone standing on higher ground.
After you and your vehicle are out of deep water and in a safe area, depress your brakes slowly several times to help dry them out.
And remember, if you're evacuating an area and leaving your car behind, be sure it's not left in a low-lying area prone to flooding. Rising water can seep in and damage your vehicle.--PROGRESSIVE INS.
07-06-2010, 05:07 AM
#3
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: state of confusion
Posts: 1,341
It's even better to lightly drag the brakes (against more throttle in order to maintain your slow speed) as you're going through water that's deep enough to immerse the bottoms of your rotors (there will be less water to "squeegee off" once you've cleared it).
Norm
07-06-2010, 06:49 AM
#4
Pressing your brake pedal after driving through water is an old school method used when cars had brake drums, with drums you actually lose your brakes, how is this still being carried over to modern cars with disc brakes
07-06-2010, 07:16 AM
#7
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: state of confusion
Posts: 1,341
Not just for drums.
Because it is still a valid method for regaining brake performance. Rotors are not immune to wetting via immersion; water can and will cling to vertical rotor faces even as they rotate.
Having water become a lubricant between a rotor and its pads still makes that rotor ineffective until the moisture has been evacuated. Making that happen takes a little time, not just one or two wheel revolutions. You still effectively "lose" your brakes, it's just that recovering wetted disc brakes is quicker than recovering wetted drums.
Some of the higher end European cars now feature brakes that automatically and periodically apply the brakes lightly when wet weather is sensed. Whether the use of PCM throttle cut on sensing a brake pedal event is at all behind this I don't know.
Downplay this effect to disc brakes at your own risk (but hopefully not at mine).
Norm
Because it is still a valid method for regaining brake performance. Rotors are not immune to wetting via immersion; water can and will cling to vertical rotor faces even as they rotate.
Having water become a lubricant between a rotor and its pads still makes that rotor ineffective until the moisture has been evacuated. Making that happen takes a little time, not just one or two wheel revolutions. You still effectively "lose" your brakes, it's just that recovering wetted disc brakes is quicker than recovering wetted drums.
Some of the higher end European cars now feature brakes that automatically and periodically apply the brakes lightly when wet weather is sensed. Whether the use of PCM throttle cut on sensing a brake pedal event is at all behind this I don't know.
Downplay this effect to disc brakes at your own risk (but hopefully not at mine).
Norm
Last edited by Norm Peterson; 07-06-2010 at 07:19 AM.
07-09-2010, 08:11 PM
#13
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Naples, Florida
Posts: 35
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