The New York State Division for Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) today urged motorists to plan ahead and familiarize themselves with precautions to protect themselves should they encounter emergencies or disasters on the road. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo declared September to be National Preparedness Month, joining all states nationwide in encouraging citizens to prepare supply kits, develop emergency plans, and get prepared in an effort to save lives and reduce suffering in the event of a disaster.

“In the spirit of preparedness, now is a good time to get your vehicle winterized to help avoid any potential emergency situations this upcoming winter,” said DHSES Commissioner John Melville. “Having a mechanic check your vehicle’s battery strength along with hoses, belts and anti-freeze will help ensure your safety in winter weather. Also, make sure to include an emergency kit in your vehicle to help you survive until help arrives.”

“Natural and man-made disasters can happen anytime and anywhere, and often happen on our roadways,” said DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan. “I urge motorists to plan ahead, prepare their cars for emergencies, and know how to handle situations that can pose a danger on the road.”

DHSES and DMV provide the following tips to be prepared for any general disaster:

• Make sure your car is stocked with survival gear, including blankets, a shovel, a flashlight with extra batteries, extra warm clothing, a set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods, and brightly-colored cloth to use as a distress flag if necessary.
• Keep your car fueled with at least half a tank of gas.
• If you have a cell phone or two-way radio available for use, keep the battery charged, and keep it with you while you’re traveling.
• If taking a longer trip, make sure someone knows your travel plans.

DHSES also offers disaster-specific tips, such as:

• During any season, flooded roadways should remain a top concern for all drivers. If you encounter flooded roadways at any time, turn around and seek an alternate route. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle drives into hazardous flood water. Do not attempt to drive over a flooded road – turn around and go another way. If you are in your car and water begins to rise rapidly around you, abandon the vehicle immediately.
• Ahead of snow storms, winterize your vehicle, install good winter tires, keep a windshield scraper and shovel in your vehicle, and check road conditions before traveling. Don’t travel unless it is necessary during storms.
• Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car – if you are in immediate danger, abandon the car and seek shelter in a substantial building. If there isn’t one nearby. Lie flat in a ditch or low spot with your hands shielding your head.
• If you are in a moving vehicle during an earthquake, stop quickly and stay inside, moving quickly to an area away from buildings, trees, overpasses, or utility wires if possible. Once the shaking has stopped, proceed with caution.
• If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning, so take shelter immediately. If lightning occurs and sturdy shelter is not available, get inside a hard top automobile (not a convertible) and keep the windows up. Additionally, the National Lightning Safety Institute reminds drivers that the notion of rubber tires on a car protecting occupants from a lightning strike is a myth. The institute suggests pulling off to the side of the road to wait out the storm, turning off the engine, and avoiding touching items inside the car until the storm is over.

The Car Care Council recommends checking your car to make sure it’s ready for the unexpected. A checklist can be found here. DMV has advice about what to do during car-related driving emergencies such as stalling on railroad tracks, a tire blowout, or another vehicle approaching head-on in your lane, which can be found here. Additionally, the New York State Thruway Authority provides information about emergency and roadside assistance, driving safety, and winter safety on its website.

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