Summer brings with it the promise of good times, but the threat of a windstorm is ever-present in some parts of the country. The hurricane season officially opened in June, but you have to be prepared through October for a major windstorm that can wreak havoc in your community. You shouldn’t wait until a tropical storm is bearing down on you to begin your preparations; you should be thinking about it right now. Here, GEICO offers important advice for keeping yourself, your family and your car safe in the event of an emergency.
Always have an emergency kit stowed in your car in case you get caught in bad weather without warning. Don’t wait until the last minute to put the kit together; be prepared ahead of time. The kit should include water, batteries, blankets, a first-aid kit and other safety items you may need upon evacuation. Gather cash, credit cards, insurance information, important documents and contact information well in advance of the storm’s arrival. If inclement weather is imminent, keep your fuel tank filled and find out what your neighborhood’s evacuation plan is. This is a good time to buy a battery-operated radio, which will allow you to hear news and weather reports even during a power outage or an evacuation. Make certain you have adequate supplies of necessary medications on hand, and develop a family plan so that everyone knows how to get in touch with each other if they’re separated.
When it becomes clear that a hurricane is on the way, make sure that you monitor local news reports, listen to your local safety officials and take their directions seriously. Try to move your car to a covered location so that it’s out of the way of any trees or suspended objects that may fall. If that’s not an option, do not park it in a low-lying location that’s prone to flooding, and consider wrapping a tarp around the vehicle to protect it from water damage. If you are asked to evacuate, never drive through standing water that is more than 6 inches deep; it could cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Don’t assume that standing water on any road is shallow; it might be covering a sinkhole or another hazard.
