Will parking a car in an underground garage be affected by a typhoon?
4 Answers
Parking a car in an underground garage can be affected when a typhoon comes. The reasons are as follows: 1. Risk of flooding: Typhoon weather is usually accompanied by heavy rain, which may rush into underground parking garages, causing cars to be flooded. 2. Liability for damages: If a vehicle is flooded in an underground parking garage, the owner may have to bear most of the losses themselves. During a typhoon, cars should be parked in: 1. Open parking lots: Large parking lots around office buildings and shopping centers reduce the possibility of vehicles being hit by foreign objects to some extent. Although open spaces are more susceptible to typhoon impacts, they are definitely safer than parking spaces along busy streets. 2. Secure rooftop parking spaces: If there are no open parking lots, cars can also be parked in stable rooftop parking spaces, including those located on the first floor of community buildings. These parking spaces have stable structures, eliminating worries about cars being hit by heavy objects around them, and they also provide some shelter from wind and rain.
Speaking of parking during typhoons, I've got plenty of experience! Last year when Typhoon 'Muifa' hit, our underground garage turned into a swimming pool, ruining the engines of over thirty cars. The biggest fear with underground parking is the drainage system failing, especially in older residential areas—once the drainage pumps stop working, the water level rises rapidly. Actually, parking above ground is safer; just find an open spot away from trees, and at worst, you might get some scratches from branches. But if you're in a newer community with floodgates or dual drainage systems in the garage, forget what I just said. Lastly, a reminder: check your insurance policy in advance—claiming for water-damaged cars is particularly troublesome.
Parking during a typhoon is really a headache. The biggest issue with underground garages is their drainage capacity, especially during heavy rainfall. When I worked in residential property management, we had to clean the drainage ditches and check if the backup generator could start the water pump before a typhoon. Car owners should check if there are flood barriers at the garage entrance and if the sandbags are piled high enough. Another often overlooked hazard is the potential formation of whirlpools at the garage exit during heavy rain, making it extremely dangerous to drive out recklessly. By the way, new energy vehicle owners should be extra cautious—the repair costs for water-damaged battery packs can be painfully high for months.
Simply put, there are three scenarios. If you live in a coastal area and encounter a storm surge, parking underground is equivalent to suicide when seawater floods in; during ordinary heavy rainfall, it depends on whether the garage drainage design meets standards; if the property management has sealed the entrance with flood barriers in advance, it might actually be safer than parking on the ground. Remember to avoid parking in fire lanes or low-lying areas of ramps to prevent being blocked. The three hours before a typhoon makes landfall are the most critical—this is the safest time to relocate your vehicle. Last month, my neighbor took advantage of the calm during the typhoon's eye to move their car under an overpass.
