Hurricane Helene is almost here. How to protect your vehicle

Are you making your final preparations for Hurricane Helene? Don’t forget one of your most important things – your car.

Ahead of the storm's impact, AAA insurance experts shared important safety tips for drivers to keep in mind as Helene heads to Florida's Gulf Coast.

“AAA urges drivers to follow the advice of local authorities and stay off the road in unsafe conditions,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “It is also important to be patient and polite to others while out and about. With an approaching storm, tensions are likely to be high, but an accident or other conflict would make matters worse.”

Where is Helene expected to meet?

Hurricane Helene is expected to strengthen to Category 3 and make landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast on Thursday. The National Hurricane Center said Helene will experience winds of 120 to 125 mph and also warned that “upward adjustments to forecast intensity” may be necessary as the storm approaches.

Current forecasts call for the storm to make landfall near the Big Bend region of Florida, but the National Hurricane Center said its impacts will be felt across the state.

Prepare your car for evacuation

AAA offers these important tips for those leaving before Helene:

Go early so you're not in a rush
Avoid distractions while driving
Slow

The experts at Ready.gov also emphasize the importance of having an emergency kit in your car and home with jumper cables, maps and extra blankets. Once you've actually evacuated, you can grab your other emergency gear and only take what you need, like cell phones, chargers, medications, and identification.

Stay in place? How to protect your car from the effects of a hurricane

Here are some tips on how to secure your vehicle before the storm:

Cover the garage windows: If you have a garage, be sure to cover all exterior windows and doors that lead outside. You should board them up in a similar way to how you would board up the windows of your home or apartment unit.
Garage door: Most garage doors are equipped with a secure latch that can be locked to prevent the door from flying in or out. Be sure to remove any automatic garage door openers so that your equipment doesn't break after the storm if you forget you locked the door.
Pull the car further inwards: If you place your car closer to the back wall of the garage, it will be better protected in case the garage door is blown inward or debris pushes the door toward the car.
Cover the car for extra protection: An extra layer of protection over the outside of your car protects it if the garage roof blows off or is otherwise damaged. Make sure all windows and sunroof openings are closed and secured to prevent water damage.

Driving in the rain? Follow these safety tips

Try to avoid driving during the storm. If you must be out and about, follow these safety tips:

Turn on your headlights This allows you to see and be seen by other drivers.
Slow. Even new tires can lose contact with the road at speeds of 56 km/h.
Increase your following distance. It takes longer to slow down and stop on wet roads.
Do not use cruise control. If the road is wet, the risk of losing control of the vehicle increases.
Avoid aquaplaning by driving in the path of the vehicle in front and releasing the accelerator pedal when approaching puddles. Also avoid heavy braking or sharp turns.
Never drive through standing water. It may be deeper than you think and hide potholes, sharp objects, or other hazards that could damage your vehicle.

When visibility is poor, AAA reminds the driver not to drive with the hazard lights on. Hazard lights are intended to indicate a disabled vehicle and using them while driving could confuse other motorists.

If conditions worsen, they must get off the road as quickly as possible. When driving on city streets, stop in a safe place such as a gas station or grocery store parking lot until the weather improves.

When driving on the highway, don't just pull over on the side of the road or under a bridge. If your visibility is impaired, other drivers may also have problems.

My vehicle is stuck in rising water. What should I do?

If your vehicle stalls when water rises, do not attempt to restart the vehicle as this could cause further damage to the engine and components.

Instead, AAA recommends exiting the vehicle immediately and moving to higher ground or a safe location.

What to do if rising water surrounds the parked vehicle?

AAA encourages you to assess the damage to your submerged vehicle. The severity of the damage depends on how high the water is. If the water stayed under your doors, your car probably didn't suffer much damage.

However, if water did If the vehicle extends beyond the bottom of your doors, it is not recommended to attempt to restart the vehicle again. Otherwise, water could enter your engine and cause irreversible damage.

They added that the door should not be opened until the water level is below the door jam. If water gets into the vehicle interior, remove it with a wet vacuum.

Car warranties: Check out the latest auto protection information at USA TODAY Homefront

Prepare your vehicle for severe weather in advance

According to AAA, the time to get your car ready for use is the days before a hurricane is expected to strike. Officials encourage drivers to check that the following items are working properly:

Air conditioning

Make sure your air conditioning is fully functional so you can stay comfortable on long drives in the heat and humidity after a storm.

battery

Test the battery with a multimeter or have its health assessed. A reliable battery is crucial to avoid the need for jump starting during evacuations.

Windshield wipers

Replace windshield wipers that leave streaks or do not clean the glass with one wipe. Don't forget the wiper on your rear window if you have one. The lifespan of a rubber insert is typically six to twelve months.

lights

Make sure all headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals are working properly so other drivers can see you even in the rain.

Tires

Tire tread and tire pressure are crucial for good traction on the road. Check tire pressure (including spare tires) at least once a month when tires are cold. Always follow the air pressure recommendations in your owner's manual or those on the driver's door jamb.

It is also advisable to keep the spare wheel in the trunk despite the need for storage space. Unpredictable road conditions following the storm make replacement essential to avoid stranding.