Summer may have officially started, but so has hurricane season. And while the Charlotte area isn’t hit too often, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a hurricane preparedness plan. Toyota of N Charlotte is here to give some tips and suggestions on what to do when a storm is predicted to hit.
Start off your hurricane preparedness plan with these tips
While it may seem like a hurricane can be just a bunch of rain and heavy winds at times, you need to be more prepared for one than you would be for a normal thunderstorm. There’s more to a hurricane preparedness plan than just knowing safe driving habits in bad weather. Here are some of the first things you should do when you hear a storm is on the way.
Get necessary car maintenance – As part of hurricane preparedness in Charlotte, you should make sure that your car is well maintained! You don’t want to be caught with a flat tire or with another faulty part when you’re trying to evacuate or need to get somewhere quickly. We recommend at least getting your tires, brakes, and battery checked.
Fill up your tank – Make sure to fill up your tank as early as possible. Gas stations have a difficult time keeping up with the demand the closer it gets to the storm hitting, and you don’t want to be caught in a situation where you can’t get gas because of long lines or no fuel at all.
Plan your evacuation route in advance – This is an important step in your hurricane preparedness plan. If you decide that evacuating away from the Charlotte area is your best option before a hurricane hits, make sure you know where you are going and how you’re going to get there. Toyota of N Charlotte recommends routes that stay away from the coast, as storm surges can occur before a hurricane makes landfall.
Keep you and your car safe in Charlotte during a storm
If the storm is about to hit the Charlotte area, there are additional steps that you must take as part of your hurricane preparedness plan to protect your Charlotte Toyota. These steps include:
Knowing where to park – If possible, try to park your vehicle high and in an enclosed space. You want to park high just in case you have to avoid flooding. And you’ll want to park in an enclosed area to avoid the chance of your car being hit by debris.
Tape your car’s windows – This won’t stop the glass from breaking, but it will make cleanup easier in the event your windows do break. We suggest using masking tape.
Remove valuables – That way you can keep them safe with you in case something happens to your car. A car and its parts are replaceable, but valuables you keep in your car may not be.
Want more tips on to how to keep yourself and your vehicle safe this hurricane season? Contact our auto service team at Toyota of N Charlotte! Our phone number is (888) 378-1214 and we’re located at 13429 Statesville Road Exit 23 off I-77 in Huntersville.
