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Photo by NASA on Unsplash
September is the height of hurricane season and it is important for you, your family, and your vehicles to be prepared. A lot of people think that if you are inland and away from the coast, you will be fine. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. As monster hurricanes are becoming the norm, many inland communities, like Ocala, are affected as well.
If you have a person in your family with special needs, if you have horses, or if power outages are a major concern for you, you may need to evacuate in the event of a hurricane. Trouble is, a lot of people in the Ocala region have similar issues, and it is important to get ahead of the major traffic jam caused by evacuees. But if you are stuck in gridlock traffic, be sure your vehicle is ready for the grind.
In the event that you, your family, your horses, and your business need to abandon the area until the storm passes, here are some helpful tips:
Keep your gas tank at least half-full. You don’t want to run out of gas when there is no power to operate the gas pumps.
Keep your vehicle regularly maintained. When you take good care of your car, it can take good care of you when there is an emergency. Don’t wait until things are broken down, or you could be stranded on the side of the road with hurricane-force winds. Not fun at all.
Pay attention to your lights and windshield wipers. Even during daylight, a hurricane can make things darker than normal. Be sure your headlights, taillights, blinker lights, and windshield wipers are working properly. It is critical that you can see and that you are visible to other drivers.
Check your batteries. Don’t let a dead battery keep you from reaching safety. As for a battery test when you bring your vehicle in for preventive maintenance. If you use your car to power your mobile devices, your battery may drain more quickly, so make sure your battery has enough power to last you a long time.
Plan your lodging ahead of time. Do you have a friend or relative that lives outside of the storm’s path? Is there somewhere you can go spend a few days? If you don’t have a friendly destination already, book your hotel room in advance. We’ve heard numerous stories about people who didn’t reserve a hotel room and were stranded in their cars. Also, check online and note on your maps where the closest hurricane shelters are located.
If you want to prepare your vehicle for the upcoming hurricanes, it’s best to do it ahead of time. For best service, schedule an appointment at Pals Ocala Auto Repair. We are conveniently located at 2821 SW College Road, Ocala, FL, 34474. We look forward to taking great care of you and your vehicle soon.