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Local automotive experts have tips to protect yourself during and after a flood

By: Donna Wick Publicity
| Published 06/23/2015

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas – With the recent flooding in the Houston area, it’s imperative that residents prepare for the possibility of rising water. However, while safety is a top priority that includes knowing how to keep vehicles safe in heavy rains and flash floods, the danger doesn’t ebb when the waters do. Purchasing a replacement automobile has its own issues that can have a buyer treading water.

“The grief doesn’t go away when the waters do,” say staff at Milstead Automotive

Mark Orsack of Milstead Automotive said, “It’s important to know how to keep your car safe and to understand what can happen in a high water situation.” Orsack has provided the following guidelines for safety in the event of a flood:

  • Avoid high-water situations
  • Watch and listen to all traffic reports
  • Watch and listen to all weather advisories
  • Avoid areas prone to flooding

Motorists should be aware of the dangers of driving into standing water. “Most cars will float and will be swept away in eighteen to twenty-four inches of moving water,” Orsack said. People often do not realize how deep the water can get on the roadways. “Creeks and rivers can rise rapidly, causing the road bottoms to wash away, making the water much deeper than it appears,” Orsack said. “The majority of flood-related deaths are caused by people attempting to drive through high water.”

Orsack advises drivers to proceed with caution and be prepared to call 911 if necessary. “If your car is swept away by flood waters, you have precious few seconds to remove your seat belt, roll down the window and escape,” he said.

In addition, flooding can cause catastrophic damage to a vehicle. “Damage to vehicles from water can have short- and long-term impacts,” Orsack said. “If your car has taken on water, do not attempt to start the vehicle; starting the vehicle with water in the engine could cause major damage beyond repair.”

Flood damage is generally covered by comprehensive insurance. “Call your insurance company to start the claim process, and start drying out the interior as soon as possible.”

If a vehicle has been flooded, it will need to be towed to a reputable mechanic. Milstead Automotive, located at 29707 W. Hawthorne in Spring, offers 24-hour towing service in the Montgomery County area.

Orsack stresses that drivers and their wallets can be substantially affected long after the flood waters have receded and the process of replacing a car has begun. “Flooding can severely damage a car, which can lead to serious safety issues. Those in the market for a used car will want to avoid purchasing a flood salvaged vehicle,” he said. A previously flooded car can have large unexpected repair bills and a lower resale value. To avoid buying a flood damaged car, Orsack offers the following list of items to check for when car shopping:

  • A musty odor
  • Damp carpets
  • Loose, stained or mismatched upholstery
  • Brittle wire under the dashboard
  • Moisture beads in the lights or instrument panels
  • Mud or silt in the glove compartment or under the seats
  • Rust around the doors, the hood and trunk latches, or under the dashboard
  • For a small fee, used car shoppers can obtain a vehicle history report from www.CARFAX.com.

For more information on successfully navigating through the high waters of surviving a flood and purchasing a replacement car afterward, call Milstead Automotive at 281-367-3535 or visit their website at www.milsteadautomotive.com.

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