Motor vehicles:

If you have a garage or carport, keep your vehicle inside.

Reinforce the garage door with 2x4 lumber, aluminum beams, or other hardware designed for hurricanes.

Take down tools, equipment and other heavy objects hanging from the ceiling or walls or on shelves and put them on the garage floor.

If you have no garage, park next to your home or a building that shields your vehicle from the wind. RVs, vans, trucks or other high-profile vehicles can be flipped over in high winds.

Do not park in narrow areas between two buildings because winds can become more intense as they funnel through these openings.

Remove all exterior attachments from vehicles such as antennas and magnets.

Cover your vehicle with blankets or padding and then a plastic sheet or waterproof tarp to protect it from airborne debris.

If you park near the beach, tape sheets or towels over the vehicle’s windows so extreme winds don’t sand-blast and pit or shatter the glass.

Do not put tape directly on the windows. It could leave a sticky residue that may obscure visibility.

Park away from trees and power lines your vehicle.

Gas up a day or two before the storm arrives. Pumps may not work afterward or there may be long lines if they do. Make sure you have cash on hand, too.

After the storm, have a mechanic inspect the engine for water damage, electrical problems and contaminated fluids. that may damage can sweep a vehicle off the road.

Beware of broken or flashing traffic lights. Treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

Don’t go sightseeing. Driving through devastated areas may hamper the recovery operations of emergency responders.