Hurricane Season Vehicle Checklist

Brevard County sits directly in the path of Atlantic storms, and evacuation routes — US-1, I-95, US-192 — clog fast when a hurricane watch goes up. Your vehicle’s reliability isn’t an abstract concern here; it’s the margin between leaving early and getting stuck. This checklist covers what to inspect now, before the season gets serious.

Is Your Battery Reliable Enough to Evacuate?

Florida heat is harder on car batteries than cold weather. A battery that’s three or more years old should be load-tested, not just checked with a voltmeter. If it’s weak, it may start fine in your driveway but fail after hours of stop-and-go traffic in August heat with the A/C running.

Signs of a marginal battery: slow cranking, a battery warning light, or corrosion build-up on the terminals. Replace it before the season rather than gambling during one.

Are Your Tires Ready for a Long Drive Under Load?

An evacuation isn’t a grocery run. Check your tires for four things now:

• Tread depth: Anything below 4/32” is marginal in rain. Brevard storms bring heavy rain before landfall — bald tires on a wet I-95 are dangerous.
• Tire pressure: Florida’s temperature swings cause pressure to fluctuate. Check cold pressure against the sticker in your door jamb, not the number on the tire sidewall.
• Sidewall condition: Look for cracks, bulges, or cuts. A compromised sidewall can fail under highway load.
• Spare: Pull it out, check the pressure, and make sure your jack and lug wrench are in the vehicle. A flat during an evacuation with no working spare is a real problem.

Do Your Wipers and Lights Work?

Wiper blades degrade fast in Florida UV. If yours are streaking or skipping in a light rain now, they’ll be useless in a tropical downpour. Replace them before the season. Rear wiper too, if your vehicle has one.

Check all exterior lights — headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals. During a storm evacuation or in the low-visibility hours before landfall, functioning lights are a safety issue for everyone around you.

Are Your Fluids at Safe Levels?

Check or have someone check:

• Engine coolant: Overheating in evacuation traffic is common. Coolant should be at the full mark and the reservoir should be clean, not brown or rusty.
• Brake fluid: Low or discolored brake fluid can signal a leak or moisture contamination — both affect stopping power.
• Power steering fluid (if applicable) and transmission fluid: Low levels can cause failure under heavy use.
• Engine oil: Fresh oil handles heat better. If you’re due for a change, do it before the season.

Is Your Fuel Tank Ready?

During a named storm threat, gas lines at Brevard stations can stretch around the block within hours of a forecast. Stations along evacuation routes often run dry before the storm arrives. Starting the season with a habit of refueling at half a tank means you have options when everyone else is scrambling.

If you have a portable gas can for a generator, store it safely — not in the passenger compartment, ever.

What Should Be in Your Vehicle Emergency Kit?

Keep a bag in the trunk year-round with:

• Water (at least one gallon per person for 24 hours)
• Phone charger and a portable power bank
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Jumper cables or a jump starter pack
• Copies of important documents in a waterproof bag
• Cash in small bills (ATMs and card readers go down when power does)
• Medications for anyone in your household who needs them
• Snacks that don’t require refrigeration

What About Belts, Hoses, and Brakes?

These don’t make most checklist articles, but they should. A snapped serpentine belt strands you. A coolant hose that bursts in traffic does the same. Brakes that pull or grind are a hazard when roads are wet and traffic unpredictable. If you don’t know the condition of these components, a shop inspection before the season starts is the right call.

Don’t Wait for a Watch to Get Ready

Once a hurricane watch is issued for Brevard County, shops fill up, parts may not be available, and you may be out of time. The window for preparation is now — June through early July — before the season’s peak.

If you want a professional eye on your vehicle’s readiness, call Master Team Automotive at (321) 722-1481. We’re at 6000 Technology Drive, Unit A in West Melbourne, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. A pre-season checkup is straightforward and gives you an honest picture of what your vehicle needs before conditions force the issue.