Disaster Driving – ARES Style
Adapted and modified Revised 11/2016 for the
Gulf Coast area by Earl Pack – AE5PA.
Original article by Ron Dodson – KA4MAP Kentucky Amateur Radio
edited by Paul Smith (K5PRS) on 05 Aug 2025
As a member of a local ARES team, you may find yourself sitting in the “shack” at your home, office or EOC. You may be on foot or in a mobile communications unit. One thing is for sure, unless you are at a fixed site and remain there, some driving must be done to get to any other location. Worse yet, what if the disaster happens while you are driving? Let’s look at some different types of conditions that you may find yourself in and some steps that you can take to handle whatever situation confronts you.
Earthquake
How do you respond if an earthquake occurs while driving? Experiencing an earthquake while in a moving vehicle has been compared to driving on four flat tires. If an earthquake occurs while you are driving:
Gradually decrease speed.
Pull to the side of the road.
Do not stop on or under overpasses or bridges.
Avoid parking near trees, power lines or buildings.
Stop the car and stay down on the floor of the car.
Remain in your car until the shaking stops.
Keep in mind that aftershocks follow the initial earthquake.
Turn on your car radio and listen for advisories.
Do not drive until it’s safe and avoid overpasses or bridges if possible.
If driving on a freeway or interstate, either stop in an open section of the road or exit at the first opportunity so as to avoid overpasses, bridges and elevated highways which may be damaged.
Response after an earthquake may be a daunting experience. If the quake is severe, most of the routes you usually take may be compromised. Check to see who is on the air to get possible route information, the drive may be easy, circuitous or it’s possible that, “You can’t get there from here”.
Waze or Google maps might indicate clear routes but it is likely to take some time for drivers to report. Be patient.
Flood
We are very aware of this problem in our area, but still, rarely a year passes without someone being drowned after attempting to drive through floodwaters. Keep the following in mind:
If your vehicle won’t move or is being moved by water, stay with the vehicle and dial 911.
Never attempt to drive through a flooded roadway as the water may be deeper than it appears!
Water weighs 62.4 lbs per cubic foot. For each foot that water rises, over 500 pounds of force are applied to the bottom and sides of the car.
One foot of water exerts enough buoyancy force that your car will weigh 1,500 lbs less than it would on dry land. Most cars will float in about 18 inches of water.
Cars can float for short periods…long enough to get washed off the road.
In smaller vehicles, you can lose control in only 6 inches of water and even in large vehicles, control can still be lost in 2 feet or less!
If you have driven into floodwater and try to escape your car you can be knocked off your feet by the force of the current and trying to swim in such conditions is very dangerous. Stay with the vehicle if at all possible.
Driving in flood waters at night is, of course, not recommended and is very dangerous because you cannot see how deep the water is or if it is flowing across the road.
If you cannot see the painted road stripes, don’t drive in it.
Tornados
If you are out in your vehicle and a tornado approaches:
Stop and leave the car! Try to find shelter in a sturdy building. If you are out spotting in inclement weather, try to pre-plan this beforehand and park in a location with accessible shelter.
If there is no building, lie flat on the ground in a ditch, ravine or the lowest spot you can find that is away from trees. Crouching can lead to a lightning strike and electrocution and high wind makes that position unsustainable.
Do not use overpasses as shelter! Though this was thought safe in the past, research has shown this is not true in most cases because of the funneling effect that increases wind speed.
Never try to out run a tornado. Though exceptional, the fastest tornado ever recorded was clocked at approximately 73 miles per hour
Once the tornado passes, WAIT! It is not unusual for the storm to spawn one or more additional tornadoes.
Blizzard
While blizzards are not too likely in our area, we did have that opportunity here in Houston not long ago so we could find ourselves in a blizzard again.
Here are some do’s and dont’s if you go out and get stuck in a snow bank:
First, dial 911. If that fails, send text messages to anyone who might help including emergency services.
Do not leave the car unless you see a safer place that is easily within walking distance for the conditions and your protective clothing.
Start the car for brief periods for heat but always leave a downwind window open slightly to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning dangers.
Be sure the exhaust stays clear of snow.
If you start getting a headache, recognize it as carbon monoxide poisoning and get some fresh air!
Watch the gas gauge but run the engine long enough to recharge the battery. Having plenty of gas but a dead battery is a bad situation in sub-freezing temperatures and high wind.
Leave the dome light on at night as a sign to possible rescuers.
If you are with others, sleep in shifts so someone can keep a lookout for rescuers and prevent you from freezing. If you’re alone…don’t sleep!
But we’re HAM radio operators! While that engine is running, put your mobile FM unit in scan mode. If you’ve got one, crank up the HF rig and scan that as well. On the hour, quarter hour and half hour, put out EMERGENCY DISTRESS calls on the appropriate frequencies.
Supplies
Whatever occurs, you can be better prepared if you carry the following in your vehicle. Adapt this list for the season and potential weather you may experience while traveling:
First aid kit (bandages, gauze, tape, antiseptic, tweezers, etc.)
Bottled water w/ minerals.
Non-perishable foods like trail mix, meal replacement bars, MREs, jerky/pemmican.
Wool blanket or sleeping bag & pillow. One or two mylar blankets (space blankets) can be fashioned into a ‘room’ to hold in body heat.
Flashlight or headlight with extra batteries.
Fire extinguisher (C02).
Pocket radio with extra batteries (preferably an HT).
Tools (screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, wire, pocket knife, can opener).
Tissues, toilet paper, and pre-moistened towelettes.
Extra clothes, sturdy shoes, socks, gloves, hat, scarf.
Chemical Hand Warmers
Manual siphon (gasoline).
Sealable plastic bags.
Local maps for the area.
Bic lighter/Matches
Toiletries.
Auto repair kit (oil, transmission/brake fluids, fix-a-flat, reflective triangles and/or flares, tools to fit your skill set)
Tire repair kit and 12 vdc air compressor
If it wasn’t made clear above, no matter the situation, the key to successful resolution is planning and preparation. Watch the season and carry the tools, materials and supplies that will keep you going until help arrives. Few people do it but prepping should be a way of life…especially for ARES members.