Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis talks about hurricane preparedness, how insurance prices could change due to Milton, and the cost of living in the Sunshine State.
as hurricane milton As it continues to spiral towards Florida on Wednesday, many Sunshine State residents in its expected path are preparing for its arrival, including those who own electric cars.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced Wednesday afternoon that Milton is expected to make landfall along the west coast of Florida on Wednesday night. The government earlier urged Floridians to quickly complete their preparations and evacuations.
Ahead of Milton, Hillsborough County, one of the counties in the hurricane's predicted path, said Monday that EV owners in flood zones “need to move their vehicles away from flooded areas and storm surge,” warning that storm surge and flooding could lead to “lithium may pose a potential risk.” Using ion batteries may cause a fire. shared the county's webpage about Electric car hurricane safety.
On October 8, 2024, thunderstorms move over Tampa, Florida, far from St. Petersburg, ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall midweek. (Brian R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Milton is expected to cause “life-threatening storm surge, wind damage, and heavy rain” in parts of central and southwest Florida if it hits Florida, the NHC said.
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Hillsborough County's website says EVs left behind during a hurricane should not be plugged into charging stations or parked in garages because salt water infiltrating the batteries can create a fire hazard. . It recommended that electric vehicles be kept 50 feet away from buildings and other vehicles.
Jimmy Patronis, Florida CFO and State Fire Marshal, also released the following statement on Monday: fire safety alarm About lithium-ion batteries, EVs, and hurricanes.
“If you have an EV that has been submerged in salt water after a storm and it remains in your garage or near your home, move it to a safe location immediately. This will help you rebuild your home. “It will allow me to focus on repairs instead of firing,'' he said in part.
Hillsborough County has advised Florida EV owners not to drive or charge their vehicles if they have been damaged by flooding.
A driver plugs in his Tesla electric car to charge at a Tesla Supercharger location on May 15, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The webpage also states: “Never drive through flood water.”
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If an electric vehicle is damaged by flooding, owners should follow the manufacturer's instructions and open the vehicle's windows and doors to “allow flammable gases to escape,” the Florida CFO state fire marshal said. said.
“If your EV has been exposed to flooding and you suspect the battery may be damaged, please contact your dealer or emergency services,” AAA said in a press release on Sunday.
Patronis wrote Monday night on the It turned out that there were more than 10,000 units,” he said.
Milton is the second hurricane to hit Florida within two weeks after Helen made landfall in the state's Big Bend region.
People visit the beach as storm clouds pass overhead ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton on October 8, 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Joe Radle/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The storm surge was associated with 11 EV lithium-ion battery fires and 37 non-EV lithium-ion battery fires in Florida, according to the state fire marshal's chief financial officer. .
Florida airport closes as Hurricane Milton approaches
Patronis said Tuesday that Florida could face “insurable losses worth more than $10, perhaps $20 billion,” depending on the fallout from Milton.
The storm has already caused major disruption ahead of landfall, with several major airports in Florida temporarily closed.
