During a hurricane, cars and trucks are safest in a covered garage, or away from trees that might topple over.
"Depending on how severe the winds are, the vehicle may be picked up and thrown by the winds, or could get damaged by falling debris," said Jessica Brady, spokeswoman at AAA Auto Club South.
But many vehicles are damaged after a storm, when drivers try to navigate deep puddles of standing water.
Never drive through standing water of an unknown depth, Brady said, because drivers risk flooding the engine, warping brake rotors, losing power steering or creating a short in the electrical components of the car.
Engine intake system. Water in the intake system ultimately gets into the cylinders, in which pistons compress air. But water doesn't compress, and the resulting pressure inside the engine can bend piston rods or crack the engine block. Either ruins the engine.
Transmission. Water makes the gears slip.
Brakes. If the rotors are extremely hot, exposure to water can warp them. The result is your car will vibrate when you try to brake. Water may get into the brake lines and cause brake failure immediately or later, when you least expect it. Brake specialists suggest that, after rolling through deep water, drivers pump their brakes to squeeze water from the pads.
Interiors. Water in the driver and passenger compartment ruins carpets, upholstery and the foam in the seats.
Electronic systems. Many manufacturers install automobile computers in the floorboards and under the seats. Water damage to these components can result in all sorts of electrical and electronic problems.
The damage caused by a flooded vehicle is not always immediately apparent.
If your vehicle has been damaged by flooding, you should not start the engine. That could cause more damage. The best thing is not to drive the car at all and call a mechanic and have the vehicle towed in for an inspection.