Hurricane Irene: Four Tips for Driving

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Hurricane Irene

Weather experts expect Hurricane Irene to make landfall in the Carolinas on Saturday, and while the storm is expected to lose strength as it makes its way up the East Coast, it could still cause a lot of problems from flooding and downed trees to power outages.
If you are stuck in your car when the storm hits, the potential for injury increases substantially. Blowing debris and falling trees and flooded roadways are among the biggest threats. So the best driving advice is: Don’t. But if you are caught driving in a hurricane or have to evacuate in your car, here are three tips to make the trip safer:
Evacuate Sooner, not Later: If authorities tell you to evacuate, you should. Indeed, you should have an escape plan ahead of time and start thinking about leaving as soon as safety officials begin talking about evacuation. If you wait too long you’ll be stuck in traffic, possibly riding out the storm in your car instead of at a safe destination.
Avoid flooded streets: Look out for standing water and avoid driving through it. Often the water is deeper than you think and it can cause your engine to stall, possibly trapping you in rising water. More than half of hurricane deaths typically result from inland flooding and many of those are people who drown in cars.
Find shelter: Strong hurricane wind blow cars off the road or at least make them difficult to control. If you are driving in a storm and having trouble staying on the road you should look for shelter under a bridge overpass or in a parking garage.
Watch out for fallen wires: Hurricanes often blow down power lines, and you shouldn’t assume your car will protect you from electrical hazards. Drivers often get stuck trying to maneuver through or around downed wires. While you may not be injured in such a situation, the presence of live wires makes it harder for emergency crews to help you.