How to keep your vehicle safe throughout Hurricane Helene

Making your final preparations for Hurricane Helene? Don't forget about one of your most important items — your car.

Ahead of the storm's impact, insurance experts at AAA shared top safety tips for drivers to be aware of as Helene heads to Florida's Gulf Coast.

“AAA urges drivers to follow the advice of local officials and stay off the road if conditions are unsafe,” Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group, said. “It’s also important to be patient and courteous of others on the road. Tensions are likely to be high with an approaching storm, but getting in a crash or other conflict would make matters worse.”

Where is Helene expected to hit?

Hurricane Helene is expected to strengthen to a Category 3 and make landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast Thursday. The National Hurricane Center said Helene will see winds speeds of 120-125 mph, also warning that "upward adjustments to the forecast intensity" could be required as the storm closes in.

Current predictions put the storm's landfall near Florida's Big Bend region, but The National Hurricane Center stated its impact will be felt throughout the state.

Get your car ready for evacuation

AAA shares these important tips for those heading out before Helene:

• Leave early so you are not in a rush

• Avoid distractions while driving

• Slow down

Ready.gov's experts also stress the importance of having an emergency kit in your car as well as your home, complete with jumper cables, maps and extra blankets. Once you're actually evacuating, you can grab your other emergency supply kit and only take what you really need with you, such as cell phones, chargers, medicines and identification.

Staying put? Here's how to protect your car from hurricane impact

Here are some tips for securing your vehicle before the storm hits:

• Cover the garage windows: If you have a garage, be sure to cover any exterior windows or doors that lead outside. You should board them up similarly to how you protect the windows of your home or apartment unit.

• Garage door: Most garage doors come with a secure latch that can be locked into place to prevent the door from blowing in or out. Be sure to detach any automatic garage door opener machinery so you won’t break your equipment after the storm if you forget you latched the door.

• Pull car further inside: Moving your car closer to the back wall of the garage will help protect it in case the garage door is blown inward or if debris pushes the door in toward the car.

• Cover the car for extra protection: An extra layer of protection over the exterior of your car will protect it if the garage roof were to be blown off or somehow damaged. Be 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 while the storm passes through. If you must be on the road, follow these safety tips:

• Turn your headlights on so you can see and be seen by other drivers.

• Slow down. Even new tires can lose contact with the roadway at speeds as low as 35 mph.

• Increase your following distance. Wet roads require more time to slow down and stop.

• Do not use cruise control. The chance of losing control of the vehicle increases when used on wet roads.

• Avoid hydroplaning by driving in the tracks of the vehicle in front of you and letting off the accelerator when approaching puddles. Also avoid hard braking or sharp turns.

• Never drive through standing water. It may be deeper than you think and concealing potholes, sharp objects or other hazards that could damage your vehicle.

If visibility is low, AAA reminds drivers not to drive with your hazard lights on. Hazard lights are meant to represent a disabled vehicle and using them while driving could confuse other motorists.

If and when conditions worsen, they add to get off the road as soon as possible. When driving on city streets, pull into a safe place like a gas station or grocery store parking lot until the weather improves.

When driving on the interstate, don’t just stop on the shoulder or under a bridge. If your visibility is compromised, other drivers may be struggling too.

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

If your vehicle stalls in rising waters, do not attempt to restart the vehicle as this could cause further damage to the engine and components.

AAA advises those to instead leave the vehicle immediately and move to higher ground or a safe location.

What to do if rising water surrounds parked vehicle

AAA says to assess the damage of your submerged vehicle. The severity of the damage will depend on how high the water got. If the water stayed below your doors, your car likely didn't sustain much damage.

However, if water did rise above the bottom of your doors, they advise those to not make any attempts to restart the vehicle. Doing so could allow water to get inside your engine, causing irreversible damage.

They added to not open the door until the water level is beneath the door jam. If water entered the vehicle interior, use a wet vac to remove it.

Auto warranties: Check out the latest on auto protection at USA TODAY Homefront

Prepare your vehicle for severe weather beforehand

The time to get your car ready are the days before a hurricane is supposed to strike, according to AAA. Officials encourage drivers to see if the following items are in proper working order:

Air conditioning

Make sure your air conditioning system is fully functional for comfortable long drives in the heat and humidity following a storm.

Battery

Test the battery with a multimeter or get a health assessment. A reliable battery is crucial to avoid needing jump-starts during evacuations.

Windshield wipers

Replace windshield wipers that leave streaks or don’t clear the glass in a single swipe. Do not forget the wiper on your rear window if you have one. The life of a rubber insert is typically six to twelve months.

Lights

Make sure all headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals are properly functioning to be sure other drivers will see you during downpours.

Tires

Tire tread and inflation levels are imperative to maintaining good traction on the road. Check the tire pressures (including the spare) at least once a month when the tires are cold. Always follow the inflation pressure recommendations in your owner’s manual, or those on the driver’s door jamb.

It is also recommended to keep your spare tire in the trunk despite the need for storage space. Unpredictable road conditions post-storm make a spare essential to avoid being stranded.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Hurricane Helene is almost here. Here's how to keep your vehicle safe