DOZENS of car owners whose vehicles were submerged in water in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene are being warned to avoid a crucial mistake that could be costly.
Hurricane Helene was called an unprecedented monster storm when it made landfall in Florida‘s Gulf Coast on September 26 before barrelling through Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky.
The storm wreaked havoc across numerous southern states, dumping trillions of gallons of rain that submerged communities, houses, and vehicles underwater, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
As residents reemerge to find their communities completely ripped apart by the hurricane, officials are cautioning drivers whose cars were damaged.
If your car is still submerged, or the water levels reached the engine compartment, it’s best not to try and start the vehicle’s ignition.
“The water may be ingested into the engine,” David Bennett, a senior automotive repair manager for the American Automobile Association (AAA), told NewsNation.
“If so, which will lead to engine failure and the engine being dissembled and/or replaced.”
Water damage to a vehicle’s engine can cost owners upwards of $8,000, according to CashCarBuyer.
Experts say car owners should consider the age of their vehicle, its condition, value, and the financing balance before forking over money for repairs.
Bennett said that if the flood waters have subsided, it’s OK to try and start your car, but warned the vehicle may not run the same.
If your vehicle was submerged in salt water from the storm, the possibility of engine damage increases.
“Sewage and chemical contaminants may also be present in floodwater, and in coastal areas, salt water from ocean storm surges can increase the possibility of vehicle damage and costly auto repairs,” according to AAA.
“Even if a car is mechanically safe to drive, sanitary corners could make it unwise for you to do so.”
EV CARNAGE
Reports of electric vehicles going up in flames due to salt water damage have increased since Hurricane Helene slammed through the southeast.
A house in Florida caught fire after a Tesla burst into flames in the garage after coming into contact with saltwater from the store, according to ABC affiliate KOLO-TV.
The homeowners told the outlet they were sleeping when two of their grandchildren heard a popping noise from the garage.
The family quickly vacated the home as the Tesla went up in flames before engulfing the garage within minutes.
“I’m just glad we’re alive, but everything, we’ve been married 38 years and everything we put into that house,” Lisa Hodges told the outlet.
“We built it for our family, and it’s all gone.”
The cause of the fire has not been determined, but officials told the outlet that it was likely the Tesla battery exploded after it came in contact with salt water.
The Dunedin Fire Rescue has warned EV owners to move their cars away from their homes.
“If your electric vehicle came in contact with flood water, don’t charge or start it,” the department said in a video on X.
“Stay safe and let professionals inspect it first.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis advised EV owners to park their vehicles on high or hilly grounds.
“Be careful about that getting inundated. It can cause fires,” DeSantis said on Wednesday.
