Essential Hurricane Preparedness Tips from Toyota of Orlando

It's been a fairly quiet hurricane season so far, but mother nature is prepared to bring the noise. Hurricane Dorian is currently swirling around the Atlantic and its predicted to hit the east coast and central Florida as a category three hurricane. While most will often shrug off major storms, they're no joke. Flooding, strong winds, lightning, power outages, and more can happen throughout a storm and there's always the aftermath to deal with.

If you're still waiting to head out and buy water and other essential supplies, this guide is definitely for you. Follow along with Toyota of Orlando for all the essential hurricane preparedness tips you should know and remember before the storm arrives.

Hurricane Preparedness Tips You Should Know

1) Start with a Plan (or two): Having a plan is one of the most important points in your hurricane preparedness plan. If you plan on evacuating or if you plan on staying in town, make sure you plan for both. Fill up your Orlando Toyota car with enough gas to drive you to an evacuation site and have a destination in mind. Also, make sure your destination will allow your pets to come along. If you plan on staying in town, have enough emergency supplies to last you a few days in the event that the power goes out, fill up your vehicle's gas tank, and buy plenty of water. 

2) Map Out Your Evacuation Route

Evacuations can definitely be hectic. You've likely seen footage or pictures on the news of traffic pile ups on major highways caused by evacuation traffic. To save you time and get you to your destination more quickly, map out your ideal route beforehand. It might be wise to use back-roads or less traveled roadways for part of the trip to avoid traffic jams. Double and triple check your supplies and make sure to have your furry friends along for the ride (you may need to stop for bathroom breaks along your route). Bring your emergency supplies and be sure to fill up your Orlando Toyota vehicle's tank prior to leaving. This is essential to ensure you have a safe route to travel as part of your hurricane preparedness plan. 

3) Gather Necessary Supplies

Whether you're staying home during the storm or planning on evacuating, you need to make sure you have the right supplies. Water is one of the most important items you should have as part of your hurricane preparedness plan. Make sure to have enough for yourself and whoever will be staying with you. Nonperishable foods are also essential to have on hand in the event that power is lost and you can preserve your perishable foods. Buy extra pet food in the event that stores are closed during and after the storm. You should also have a good supply of batteries and flashlights on hand. 

4) Locate Important Documents

If you plan to stay in town during the storm, make sure your important items and sensitive documents are kept track of. If you plan to evacuate, bring these documents and items with you. Unfortunately, things can get lost in the midst of a storm and you may come home to find things missing. It's best to play it safe and save some trunk space for these items. 

5) Make Sure Your Orlando Toyota Vehicle is Serviced Before You Leave

With everything that you need to keep track of for hurricane preparedness in the time leading up to a storm, you likely didn't think about whether or not your vehicle has been recently serviced. To avoid a tire blowout or an overheating engine while on your evacuation route, make sure to have your vehicle serviced by one of our Toyota of Orlando auto service techs. With a clean bill of health for your vehicle, you can be rest assured that your evacuation will go more smoothly. 

Make sure to read up on these hurricane preparedness tips from us at Toyota of Orlando before the storm arrives. Be safe out there!