How to Deal With New Orleans Car Flood Damage

Live in New Orleans long enough, and you'll end up with water inside your car. New Orleans car flood damage doesn't have to mean disaster, and there are some steps you can take to minimize the problem.

First and foremost, assess the high water mark.

Getting a little water inside your interior is a pain. Getting it inside your tailpipe is much worse. Getting it over your dashboard is much, much worse.

If all you're dealing with is a little water in your step well, bail it out as quickly as possible, get your rugs shampooed or replaced, and be prepared to spray a lot of Febreze around until the smell dissipates.

Remember there are no "flood free" areas in New Orleans.

The type of New Orleans car flood damage we're talking about here only requires a few feet of water. While uptown and the "sliver by the river" are high enough that they didn't flood during Katrina, the areas are just as vulnerable to temporary street flooding as the Lower Ninth Ward. It only needs to rain heavier than an inch an hour to overwhelm the pumps. Even patches of such streets as Tchoupitoulas and Magazine can get lake-like pretty quickly.

If you think the water might have gone into the engine, do not start the car.

If you even suspect that water has gone into the engine of your car, do not try the ignition to check it out. In all likelihood, the engine will initially turn over no matter how much water is in there. Running the engine, however, distributes the water throughout motor, thus insuring that the most damage possible will be done.

You can check for water in the engine without turning the key by seeing if water droplets appear on the dipsticks for the oil or transmission fluid.

Have it evaluated before you junk it.

Car flood damage in New Orleans means fresh water, not salt water, and that means even deep immersion may not spell the end of your automobile. Call for a tow to the garage.

If there's been a particularly heavy flood in town, you may not be able to get a tow for a few days. If you know what you're doing, disconnect the battery ground strap while you're waiting for the truck.

Pretty much any auto shop can check for water damage.

Whether or not you decide to have your car fixed at the nearest garage, I've heard from several mechanics in town that even the most basic auto repair place will be able to provide you with a good estimate of your car's water damage. Time and corrosion are the most important factors here, so your best bet is to get your car looked at as quickly as possible.

To repair your car, choose a place with flood damage experience.

You'll be up against two obstacles if you decide to get the car repaired: water damage and your insurance agency.

Insurance companies work on averages, and the majority of car flooding in the US deals with salt water - an instant car-corroder/destroyer. Your agency may try to insist on paying for a replacement car. A garage with flood damage experience will be able to help you convince your insurance agency that the rainwater damage is, in fact, the better way to go.

Best yet, avoid flooding with paranoia.

Car flood damage is something we worry about when faced with a hurricane, but there's something kind of weird about the idea when contemplating an afternoon downfall. Dealing with daily thunderstorms, especially in the late summer, can make us blasé about street flooding, diminishing our natural, healthy fears about auto repair costs.

If it's raining heavily, slow down when you drive. If you cannot see exactly how deep a pool of water is in front of you, pull over and park. As much inconvenience as there is in walking home, it's nothing compared to dealing with car flood damage. If the street is flooding heavily and there's no other high ground in sight, carefully pull up on the neutral ground to park. Just remember to come back quickly when the waters recede to retrieve your vehicle.

If you think it might rain, park with care. A parking lot with just a few inches of elevation can make all the difference.

If you do park on the street, evaluate the area. Is this one of those roads with sharply declining sides and high curbs? Do you see crumbling concrete that may be due to water damage? Is there a gaping gutter nearby? They can clog up and make a nice little lake of doom around your tires.

And finally, if you're already parked somewhere when the skies open up, go and check on your car. Wet shoes and wrestling with your umbrella are a small price to pay to make sure the water level isn't creeping over your hubcaps.