Hurricanes and Tornadoes
Driving in natural disasters can be incredibly dangerous, especially those associated with extremely high winds and torrential downpours. There is usually enough warning in advance of a hurricane or tornado. However, not everyone heeds these warnings and may find themselves in considerable danger. Heed the following advice, and you will stay out of harm's way:
Hurricanes
- Map out an evacuation plan. Figure out where you are headed, and investigate alternative escape routes. Also, notify friends and family of your intended path and final destination.
- Get your supplies ready ahead of time, and gather materials that could be valuable for an extended evacuation:
- Over-the-counter and prescription medications
- Flashlights with spare batteries
- Portable radio with extra batteries
- Provisions (e.g., bottled drinks and nonperishable food)
- Full tank of gas
- Cell phone with wall charger and car charger
- Be prepared for immediate evacuation if urged by local officials. If you procrastinate, you could encounter traffic backups for miles and face harsh weather.
- Take your vehicle in for a checkup as soon as you are informed that a storm is approaching. Even better, get it serviced prior to the hurricane season.
- Do not travel on flooded roads.
- Watch for high winds.
Tornados
- Avoid driving during a tornado at all costs.
- Do not attempt to outrace a tornado in your car; tornados have the capability to suddenly shift their course and hurl a car or truck through the air.
- Leave your vehicle if you are in immediate danger, and seek refuge in a sturdy structure—not a shed.
- If you don’t have time to reach shelter in a sturdy building, exit the vehicle and lay down in a ditch a fair distance from the vehicle.
- Watch out for flooding.