Deadly Consequences of Storm Surges: Electric Vehicle Sparks Home Fire

Tragic results of Hurricane Helene | Davis Islands in Tampa, FLPhoto byScreengrab | WTSP

We do our best as Florida die-hards to accommodate natural disasters. My grandson and I (though he had no choice at 5 years old) braved Hurricane Ian while living in Fort Myers, Florida in 2022. Preparations were made and we were among the lucky and blessed.

The eye of the storm was unsettling but the aftermath? Dystopian. We were not on the coast and yet surrounded by flooded streets and floating debris.

My grandson Ian in Fort Myers watching the power of Hurricane IanPhoto byphoto by author

My awareness of the dangers, expectations, and readiness started when my grandson was just days shy of being born and my daughter and I evacuated to Kissimmee, Florida to escape Hurricane Irma.

However, the comfort of doing the homework and thinking you've covered it all, should not be taken lightly. Devastation comes quickly when you've missed some vital knowledge.

Now my grandson and I live in Brevard County, Florida, on the East Coast. We were grateful to have a buffer from Hurricane Helene. She was deadly.

The death toll rises to well over 50 from Helene's wrath. Nine people's lives were lost in Pinellas County, Florida's mandatory evacuation Zone A. The investigation is ongoing and early reports indicate they died by drowning.

The danger continues well after the massive hurricane winds have moved away.

Storm Surge

Storm surges are the leading cause of fatalities caused by hurricanes. Extreme flooding in coastal areas poses a significant threat and can travel up rivers and canals. Inland is just as vulnerable as the coasts.

One couple, Jon Yousef and his girlfriend Ann-Louise Abbott, sought shelter in Jon's second-floor apartment and encountered others seeking help while looking to get out of St. Pete Beach.

They witnessed various people walking through the night, desperately seeking shelter. Abbott talked about one of the unsettling images:

"The lady’s head only stood out of the water and she had her cat on top of her head and I guess her husband was carrying all their stuff."

"My car is filled with water, my car is totaled," said Yousef. "My whole parking lot, everyone’s car, [water] was up to the hood, up to the windshield."

Approximately five to eight feet of storm surge flooded Tampa. Once beautiful, upscale homes in Davis Islands had no reported injuries or deaths, but one home went up in flames. The water was simply too high for first responders to offer assistance.

Electric Vehicles | Fire

Resident's camera captures EV fire in Pinellas County, FLPhoto byAuthor Screengrab | Facebook

Fires are not uncommon during storm activity of this magnitude. The saltwater intrusion into the home's power supply compromises the system when the power is turned back on.

The same tragic consequence occurred at the Davis Islands home fire and officials suspect the cause may have been a Tesla parked in the garage. Lithium-ion batteries inside electric vehicles can spark fire when exposed to saltwater.

It is strongly recommended to have your electric vehicle towed away from your property once it has sustained flooding. Do not start it.

According to the NHTSA, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Electric Vehicles and Battery Safety

"Recent hurricanes in Florida have revealed that seawater flooded EVs pose major safety concerns to passengers, emergency responders, and recovery personnel."

The 2022 Hurricane Ian impacted between 3000-5000 EVs to various degrees:

• 600 EVs were a total loss (36 EVs caught on fire)
• In several instances, fire erupted while the impacted EVs were being towed on their flatbed trailers.
• Hurricane Idalia in 2023 also caused several EVs to catch on fire, although the numbers were lower than Hurricane Ian due to a relatively weaker hurricane and the public awareness to move EVs to higher grounds.
• Spontaneous EV fires have also been reported after accidental EV immersion such as in boat ramps.

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FEMAPhoto byauthor screenshot

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Sources:
NOAA
WTSP
WUSF
NHTSA