Officials in Florida have issued a warning about the fire risk associated with electric vehicles (EVs) that are exposed to floodwaters during Hurricane Milton. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor urged residents, especially EV owners, to park their vehicles on upper floors in garages to avoid the dangers of flooding and potential fires. She emphasized that once EV batteries catch fire, they cannot be extinguished. The mayor also mentioned that during Hurricane Helene two weeks ago, some houses were lost due to fires caused by saltwater flooding EVs.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had previously alerted residents about the risk of fire from electric vehicles and floodwaters. Contact with saltwater can cause batteries to short-circuit, leading to thermal runaway and subsequent fires.
To encourage more EV users to utilize above-ground parking during Hurricane Milton, all parking fees were waived by the City of Tampa mobility department.
The Florida CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis called on EV manufacturers to take measures for protecting lives during hurricanes. The agency reported 48 lithium-ion battery fires related to storm surge from Hurricane Helene, with 11 of those incidents involving EVs.
Patronis advised residents whose vehicles or devices have been compromised by flooding should unplug them and move them away from homes into open spaces. He also urged people not to dispose of these items in regular car lots or trash bins but instead contact local authorities for safe disposal options.
Tesla provided guidance on its website for owners who may encounter a flooding event. They recommend moving EVs to higher ground before potential submersion events and contacting first responders if signs of fire or overheating are observed.
Similar issues arose after Hurricane Ian in 2022 when many EVs were disabled due to battery corrosion causing fires. These incidents highlight the new challenges faced by firefighters following hurricanes involving electric vehicle fires.
EV-related flood and fire risks have been a concern since Superstorm Sandy in New Jersey back in 2012.