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In the days leading up to Hurricane Irma, there was much trepidation over the eventual human and material impact the hurricane would have. Hurricane Irma, after all, will go down in history as one of the most notorious storms to ever form in the Atlantic Ocean, ultimately making landfall as a CAT4 hurricane in the Florida Keys September 10th. Sustained winds of up to 185 mph made it deadly, forcing mandatory and voluntary evacuations across the state of Florida. Predictions place the monetary value of Irma’s damage in the range of $50 billion, and that’s not including costs to replace the thousands of vehicles lost to flooding and storm damage.
So, what can you do to aid in the recovery efforts?
Donate Time & Money
With Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma submitting the southern states to a one-two punch, our ability to contribute is more important than ever. USA Today offered a list of charities that can make a big impact on those affected. Some select charities to consider include:
- Red Cross: The Red Cross has mobilized volunteers and resources to tackle the damage of both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.
- World Vision: A Christian charity that guarantees 90% of all funds contributed will directly go to those impacted, while the other funds will go toward getting the word out.
- PayPal: Set up a private relief page as PayPal is waving all processing fees, allowing 100% of donations to get to those in need.
- Village Toyota: To support all our fellow Floridians affected by Irma, we’re currently offering $1,000 rebates when purchasing a new or used car at our Homosassa Toyota dealership. Click here to learn if you’re qualified to receive this cash-back discount.
As horrific as Irma was, watching people come together is always powerful.
Signs of a Flooded Used Car
Hurricane Irma was responsible for one the largest mass evacuations in American history. As residents made their way out of the Sunshine State, half a million cars were left to incur Irma’s wrath. As car people, we want to ensure you aren’t stuck with a flooded or salvaged vehicle the next time you shop for a car. Here are some common signs and symptoms of a car that’s been submerged in stormwater.
- Gather a CARFAX Vehicle History Report; these reports are invaluable as a source of vehicular information. They contain statistics regarding flood damage, accident history, odometer readings, service records, and more.
- Use your sense of smell; flood and water damage often leave a noticeable musty odor, especially on carpets, seats, and in trunks.
- Dig around a little bit. Pull back the carpet to see if there are water spots or stains. A recent shampooing can be a sign that flood damage has occurred, but you’ll have to look (and sniff) thoroughly to make sure.
- Take a peek under the vehicle to see if you can spot any corrosive surfaces.
- Open doors, the hood, and trunk to look for discoloration, which can be an obvious sign of water damage.
- Observe and test out electrical components that would have been affected by water damage. During your test drive, be sure to turn on all the lights, radio, AC, etc. If anything is out of sorts, such as a flickering overhead lamp or flashing dash lights, you might want to give it a no-go.
- Shop at a verified used car dealership like Village Toyota. We thoroughly inspect and recondition any used vehicle that comes into our dealer, so you can rest assured that you’ll be getting a quality car without a salvage history.
Let’s work together to rebound from this crazy hurricane season. Whether you’re from Homosassa or Dunnellon, FL, know that we’re all in this together.
If you’re in need of a car after Irma, or simply want to learn more about how to help those affected by this year’s storms, contact your local Toyota dealership at (352) 628-5100 or visit our Homosassa used Toyota dealership at 2431 S Suncoast Blvd. We’ll gladly point you toward a quality vehicle or charity to donate your time and money to. Stay strong, Floridians! We’ll be back and running at full speed before you know it.
Sources & Photos:
https://qz.com/1072681/hurricane-irma-more-than-874000-cars-fled-florida-ahead-of-the-storm/
https://webcms.colostate.edu/tropical/media/sites/111/2017/09/Hurricane-Irma-Records.pdf
https://patch.com/florida/miami/how-spot-car-water-damage-after-hurricane-irma
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