Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

How to Deal With an Approaching Hurricane

Hurricanes mean widespread flooding, intense winds, and downed power lines. Follow these 11 tips to prepare yourself if you manage fleets in the path of a coming storm.

August 30, 2019
How to Deal With an Approaching Hurricane

Fleets with vehicles in Florida can take precautions to minimize the impact of a hurricane on their personnel and vehicles.

Screenshot via ABC News.

2 min to read


As Hurricane Dorian moved toward the central Florida Atlantic coast, the tropical cyclone is was expected to unleash torrential rain and raise the risk of flooding after landfall, according to AccuWeather.

On Aug. 30, AccuWeather meteorologists projected that Dorian would make landfall as a major hurricane with the intensity of a Category 4 and maximum sustained winds of 130 mph or greater along the middle of Florida's east coast.

Ad Loading...

For commercial fleets, hurricanes mean widespread flooding, intense winds, and downed power lines — all of which are major roadway hazards.

Now is a good time for fleet managers to take precautions. ARI has offered several steps fleets can take to protect vehicles and drivers in advance. Here are 11 tips:

Fuel Up

Ensure all of your fleet vehicles have a full tank of gas ready to go.

Find High Ground

Move parked vehicles from flood-prone and low-lying areas to mitigate exposure.

Supply Roadside Kits

Provide your drivers with packed resources in case they get stranded. Kits should include water, batteries, a flashlight, first aid supplies, and healthy snacks, for example.

Ad Loading...

Protect Documents

Make copies of all registration and insurance cards. Store originals in a waterproof bag.

Take Photographs

Be proactive and make sure you have proof of vehicle interiors and exteriors for potential insurance claims.

In addition, now is a good time to remind drivers how to stay safe if they find themselves behind the wheel during a tropical storm or hurricane. Experts offer the following tips:

Slow Down

It's the best way to keep control on wet, slippery roads and with limited visibility.

Avoid Flooded Roads or Moving Water

Don't underestimate just how deep the water is and attempt to drive through it. In fact, in one foot of water, some vehicles will float. Two feet of water can sweep vehicles away, including SUVs and pickups.

Ad Loading...

Avoid Hydroplaning

Hydroplaning is when your vehicle loses contact with the road and feels like it is floating on water. It's a dangerous situation and can happen during any storm. To avoid hydroplaning, slow down, turn off cruise control, and avoid sudden braking and turns.

Turn on Your Headlights

To increase visibility use your headlights, but not the high beams, which can distract you and other drivers.

Increase Following Distance

While driving in a hurricane, it is best to keep ample distance between your vehicle and the one ahead. This way you have more time to react to any sudden moves or stalls by other vehicles.

Get to Higher Ground

It's always best not to drive at all in extreme weather. So if possible, find a safe place on higher ground and pull over until the downpour passes.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Safety

An image to reflect an article on how the safest fleets aren't the ones with the most tech.
SafetyAugust 11, 2026

The Safest Fleets Aren’t the Ones with the Most Technology

You’ve made the telematics investment. Here’s how to capture the other half of its value and build the safest fleet on the road.

Read More →
Cover of the AgileFleet white paper "Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks" with the AgileFleet logo and a photo of fleet vehicles parked outside a government building.
SponsoredAugust 7, 2026

Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks

Fleet compliance isn't just about having policies — it's about consistently enforcing them. This practical guide reveals six hidden compliance risks common in public sector and shared fleet operations and outlines proven strategies to improve visibility, accountability, and audit readiness

Read More →
conference attendees watching a speaker
Safetyby StaffAugust 6, 2026

NETS Sets 2026 Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference for Indianapolis

The Sept. 15–17 program will feature fleet benchmarking data, case studies, emerging technologies, and implementation strategies while running alongside the NSC Safety Congress & Expo.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
NETS crash statistics overlaying an accident photo
Safetyby Chris BrownAugust 5, 2026

Off-the-Job Crashes Account for 43% of Employers’ $61.7 Billion Crash Burden

NETS quantifies costs dispersed across fleet, risk, HR, and other departments while providing new per-crash benchmarks for employers.

Read More →
red ram recall image
Safetyby Faith HowellAugust 3, 2026

Ram Recalls More Than 1.27 Million 1500 Pickups for Seat Belt Anchor Issue

The recall affects certain 2019-2026 Ram 1500 pickups that may have improperly attached second-row seat belt buckle anchors.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for a Utilimarc guide titled How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48% featuring a call-to-action to download the guide.
SponsoredJuly 17, 2026

How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48%

Fleet leaders don't need more data, they need clearer visibility into what the data is saying. This case study explores how one utility replaced speeding-event counts with a single metric — miles driven in violation — to strengthen safety and significantly reduce speeding violations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Smiling commercial truck driver gives a thumbs-up from inside a tractor cab during Operation Safe Driver Week 2026, highlighting fleet safety, responsible driving and enforcement awareness.
Safetyby Judie NuskeyJuly 16, 2026

Operation Safe Driver Week: Why the Industry's Oldest Safety Campaign Still Matters to Fleets

A look at how a 2007 enforcement initiative became one of the most consequential weeks on the fleet safety calendar, and what it means for your drivers in 2026.

Read More →
Nexar and nauto logos
Safetyby StaffJuly 13, 2026

Nexar-Nauto Merger Aims to Give Fleets Better Safety Intelligence Through Larger Driving Dataset

Stefan Heck tells Automotive Fleet that combining more than 10 billion miles of driving history with Nexar's AI models will give fleets deeper insights into driver risk and roadway conditions than either company could provide independently.

Read More →
A black square with white color font text
SponsoredJuly 2, 2026

From Silos to Solutions: Relationship Management for Safer Fleets

From telematics adoption and driver accountability to policy consistency and risk mitigation, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a safer fleet culture without slowing business down.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
IIHS HLDI text overlaid on the trunks of pick up trucks.
Safetyby Chris BrownJuly 2, 2026

IIHS Launches First Commercial Vehicle Safety Evaluations

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has begun evaluating heavy-duty pickups and cargo vans for driver protection. Which models earned top marks?

Read More →