Hurricane Isaac and Your Car

I live in New Hampshire and from about 2005 to about 2008, every Mother's Day, we would have massive rain. Combined with the snow runoff, our town and surrounding areas would become flooded. Now there is Hurricane Issac headed to the Gulf. Floods and cars don't mix but because we place such a premium on our vehicles, some people, out of desperation may do anything to save their car.

I had a job delivering papers one year to make some money while unemployed after giving birth. I had a Blazer and even though many towns were flooded, I thought I was superwoman in my truck and decided to deliver the papers as normal. No one told me that FEMA had declared New Hampshire a state of emergency and the potential for more flooding was imminent. There was one section in which the water came over my tires and I realized I was not touching the road. Thankfully, I came to some high ground, found the back high road, abandoned my duties and drive home. I was terrified at losing my life but even more so at losing my car because it was how I got to work, did work and took my children to their doctor and school.

It is said that only two feet of water is needed to make a car float away. My daughter is 6 and she is taller than two feet. Rushing water is a very strong force. With every foot that the water level rises, you car loses the affect of 1500 pounds. If you car weighs 5000 pounds, at three and a half feet, your car will seemingly weigh nothing. If your car is floating away, please do not try to jump into it to steer it back to your home. Your weight does help but your 150/200 pound frame can do nothing to mitigate the force of 5000 pounds.

Once your car has dried out, you will need to take it to a mechanic. (My Blazer was considered totaled after it no longer worked as soon as I had it inspected). The brakes are the number one issue everyone thinks about but that is NOT the issue to be concerned about. The transmission in a car is meant to remain dry. That's why it has a hood: to protect it from the rain. If enough water gets into the transmission, no amount of drying out will fix it. A new transmission will be in order.

There really isn't much we can do to change the weather or it's power. If you have a garage, park your car in it. (Trust me, most of the stuff parked in there can probably be thrown out anyway). If your car is outside, find some bungee cords and tie it to a fence or other structure that can withstand the might of the water as it rises.

I pray you are all safe in the next few days.

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