GMC and Hurricane Season

When thinking of strong tornado and hurricane seasons, your first thoughts may not gravitate to North Carolina. But preparation for these natural disasters can be the difference between safety and danger for you and your family here in the old North State. After all, according to ReadyNC.gov —

 

“All parts of North Carolina have been hit by tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, lightning strikes, snow and ice storms. These natural disasters can cause power outages, property damage, and disruption to food and water supplies.”

Not only is it important to prepare for these natural disasters, but you also need to see if your vehicle can handle them! Liberty Buick GMC has a few vehicles built to withstand even the most daunting weather patterns, so read on to learn about the safest and strongest models the dealership has provided the Matthews area for years!

Tornados In North Carolina

Before we get into vehicles, it’s important to understand these weather patterns.

As we touched on earlier, all parts of North Carolina have witnessed these weather events, as have a number of North Carolinian vehicles.

Tornados often happen suddenly, with little warning, leaving folks stuck in place when a tornado begins. The North Carolina State Climate Office reports that from 1950 to 2019, North Carolina experienced 1,387 tornadoes. Meaning that on average, we see 29 tornadoes a year. That’s more tornados than many may expect for North Carolina!

To understand the impact a tornado can have on your vehicle, it’s important to know the levels of strength associated with the weather event. Tornados are often classified by the strength of their winds, ranging from F0 to F5.

Once a tornado reaches F2, somewhere between 113 – 157 mph, it has the ability to pick up cars, spelling danger if you’re caught driving. While F2 is closer to the mild end of the scale for tornados, the ability to throw a vehicle through the air is a testament to its power and potential to impact you and your vehicle.

Hurricanes in North Carolina

North Carolina is no stranger to hurricanes — of 301 hurricanes that have made landfall in the U.S. since 1851, 58 of them have been in North Carolina. And for those who may believe a majority of those hurricanes were relegated to the cost, over the past 20 years, every part of North Carolina has been impacted by hurricanes. So planning for the weather event is a good way to keep you and your family safe.

Unlike tornados, hurricanes can typically be forecasted before they happen or make landfall in an area. The Atlantic hurricane season, which impacts North Carolina, begins June 1st and ends November 30th, so the season is about to start.

When a hurricane hits an area, vehicles risk flooding, damage from debris, displacement by strong winds, and much more. Take the recent hurricane Ian in Florida for example, where 350,000 cars were damaged by flooding alone. The potential for this weather event to ruin any vehicle is extremely high, especially if that vehicle isn’t prepared or the driver hasn’t taken the necessary steps to minimize risk.

What to Do When In Your Vehicle

If the facts and data above conveyed anything, it’s that these weather patterns are dangerous. Knowing what to do ahead of time can make the difference between life and death! Here’s what you need to do if you encounter either event while driving in your vehicle.

Tornados – If you’re driving your vehicle and see a tornado here are a few ways you can mitigate chances of danger. Though, it’s generally best to seek underground and sturdy shelter, as being on the road in the open severely limits your ability to stay covered.

• Don’t try to outrun the tornado. Instead, try and move your vehicle out of the path of the upcoming weather pattern. Then, if you can’t find any shelter, park your vehicle in a low-lying area, remain buckled, get low into your vehicle, and cover your head and neck with your hands. Though if you can get out of the roadway entirely, specifically under the road grade, it may be best to seek shelter there.

Hurricanes – Most of the time, we know when a hurricane is expected to occur, so it’s easy to avoid being in your vehicle when the weather pattern makes landfall. Though if the data from Hurricane Ian showed you anything, the likelihood of a hurricane ruining your vehicle is high. Still, there are steps you can take with your vehicle to keep it safe, while you and your family seek shelter.

If a hurricane is severe enough, there’s no perfect place to leave your vehicle. The one rule that remains consistent — the higher elevation the better. Once elevated you can seek things like barns or garages that provide shelter as well as height above an oncoming flood path. Parking your vehicle next to a building but away from things likely to fall, like powerlines and trees, helps break the strong winds but keeps debris from falling on your ride. Just be sure to invest in a sturdy tarp if the vehicle is left outside!

For those in more urban areas, structures like parking garages, at higher levels, away from openings, are sturdy and elevated enough to increase the chances your vehicle makes it through landfall.

Once the hurricane itself subsides, your area is sure to be left with some significant flooding, alongside damage and blockages of major roads. This can make travel in some vehicles nearly impossible. Though Liberty Buick GMC offers some vehicles designed for rugged travel that can handle some of those conditions.

“When it comes to durability, the Sierra is unrivaled” – Liberty Buick Sales Rep.

The Sierra is one such vehicle that comes to mind. Every trim of the Sierra is capable of unreal offroading capability, backed by 310 hp and 430 pounds of torque. And the large truck bed ensures you’ll be able to haul and move whatever is necessary. The Sierra isn’t the only vehicle Liberty Buick GMC offers that’s capable of handling tough conditions, a whole list of SUVs offer a similar level of versatility. So while driving during one of these weather patterns isn’t the safest idea, having a GMC afterward is vital.

How To Prepare

You may know what to do with your vehicle if you’re caught in one of these storms, though knowing what to bring and prepare with is just as important! Having just a few items in your vehicle can greatly improve your safety and give you peace of mind.

First, make sure your car is properly taken care of. Oil changes, good tires, effective wipers, and more, will all make things much safer for you and your vehicle. And the team at Liberty Buick GMC is well-prepared to bring your vehicle to its top shape! GMC’s service department is unrivaled and while Liberty has a track record of leaving customers happy after a sale, they also have a record of professional service. Take Alexandra’s review for an example —

Once your vehicle is mechanically sound, it’s a good idea to stock it with some non-perishable foods, water, flashlights, charging blocks, blankets, and first-aid kits. All of these supplies are especially helpful, as their usefulness isn’t just limited to tornadoes and hurricanes!

GMC Safety Features

We’ve touched on the importance of safety at length throughout this article and the GMCs safety suite is one of the biggest advantages GMC owners have. GMC vehicles offer Pro Safety and Pro Safety Plus, a collection of safety features that increase protection!

The basic package includes things like, forward-collision warning, following distance indicator, automatic high beams, automatic braking, and lane assistance technology.

While the Plus package adds a few features to an already well-rounded basic suite. Features like blind spot warning technology, rear parking assistance, and rear cross-traffic alerts, all create an industry-best safety package among a whole host of new GMC vehicles. So, if you’re looking for a safe ride, look no further! You can read more about the safety advantages Liberty Buick GMC offers through the dealership’s blog here.

Liberty GMC as the Tested Partner

So, while you hopefully won’t have to employ the planning and preparation for major weather events you put in place, it’s necessary to think ahead. And if you’re picking a vehicle that’s ready to last, even in some difficult times, finding the right automotive partner is a must.

“I invite and encourage you to join our family of friends and customers at Liberty so you can see the difference for yourself.” – Scott McCorkle, Owner

If sturdy, powerful, and safe vehicles are what you’re looking for — Liberty Buick GMC is the dealership for you. With over 2,000 reviews on Google, the dealership stands at nearly 5 out of 5 stars. Their locally owned and they know the Matthews area well, looking at potential car buyers not as customers, but as neighbors looking to make a big next step!

That sentiment isn’t limited to this blog post, it’s consistent among those 2,000+ reviews. Take this review from Hayley for example, as she bought one of the powerful trucks we’ve detailed in this article:

So, don’t wait, get your hands on a vehicle ready to withstand whatever is thrown at it — while keeping you and your family safe. Contact Liberty Buick GMC today!

Tags: GMC, GMC Safety Features, GMC Truck, Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500
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