Storm season is back and in full throttle. This was especially prevalent with the recent flooding in Lake Charles and flooding all over Baton Rouge. And emergencies always have a habit of happening when we least expect them. One of the worst ways we lose in floods is when our vehicles take a major hit. Floodwaters can affect your car in more ways than you may think. However, with the right preparation, you could save your vehicle and possibly your life. Discover more about what to do and how to prepare for any oncoming floods.

Flood Prevention

Sometimes, major storms strike in the dead of night. There’s very little that you can do when your car has been submerged in the middle of the night. So you have to prepare for it ahead of time.

Begin by looking at the news beforehand. Does The Weather Channel have anything to say about the incoming storm? That’s one good indication that it’s time to prepare. Perhaps your driveway or parking lot floods easily. If so, you should definitely look into moving your car to higher ground. There’s less chance of your car flooding, saving you money, time, and stress.

Driving Towards Floodwaters

Sometimes it’s nearly impossible to avoid these situations. You may be out and about and a sudden surge might cause you to end up in a sticky situation. This is especially true in Baton Rouge, where some areas may cause a large puddle to form. And, while it may seem like you can simply drive through these, you really can’t without risking your engine.

Did you know that even six inches of water can cause serious damage to your car if you drive through it? The worst thing that could happen is if your engine becomes flooded. Water damage to your engine may go as far as requiring a complete replacement. And, that’s if no other parts of your car become damaged.

So if you see a puddle, you need to think carefully about whether it’s worth the risk to drive through it. If it’s too deep, you risk some pretty pricey damages.

What to Do in a Flooding Vehicle

But sometimes, the worst can happen. You may be in a situation where flood waters are rising and you can feel the wheels of your car being swept away. But don’t panic. There are a few things you can do to save yourself from disaster.

If you’re trapped inside a sinking car, the first thing to do is unbuckle your seatbelt. If you can, roll down your window and escape that way. Unless submerged, most automatic windows can do this. If you cannot open it, break it. Use whatever sharp or dense object you can find and strike the window as hard as you can. The side and rear windows in your car are made of “safety glass.” This safety glass is designed to shatter into glass pebbles when broken. But when you do break your window, you should still cover your eyes to avoid any debris flying into them. You should really only attempt this with your side windows and your back window as your windshield is much thicker and is designed to stay together in a sheet.

As a last resort to creating an exit—you can always kick the window open. But keep in mind that this is very difficult to do. If you're going to attempt it, you should focus on the hinges or near the front of the window.

Other methods of escape are extremely risky and could result in death. In a worst-case scenario, escaping through the window and leaving your car behind can be the best option. If this happens, swim as far away as needed to reach dry land.

Want More Information Just Like This?

At Bayou Ford, we put the needs of our clients first. So if you’re looking for more helpful information that could be useful in a pinch, check out our blog. If you have a question about our vehicles or what else we can do to help you, feel free to give us a call! You can reach our sales team at 985-250-2853, and one of our members will be with you shortly!