ALBAWABA - Hurricane Helen almost destroyed a Florida family twice. After surviving the cyclone and water, their Tesla caught fire and destroyed their house.
The Daily Mail stated that the Hodges family turned off their Tesla Model X before the storm. Morgan Hodges, the father, put the car in the garage 8 inches (20 cm) above the ground for protection when their house flooded.
Two grandkids heard loud garage explosions about midnight on September 27. The Tesla had caught fire, and they instantly realized the surrounding was in flames.
The garage caught fire quickly as alarms blared, forcing the family outside. Luckily, all nine family members and two pets survived.
The family was shocked to find that a few inches of garage water started the fire. Flames under the truck sparked and quickly became a fire, according to surveillance video.
This event happened immediately after authorities warned about electric car fire dangers in seawater due to Hurricane Helen. Short circuits caused by water touching lithium-ion battery connections may fire automobiles.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Special Investigations Branch chief Tom Barth said, "If water can connect the positive and negative terminals of the battery, it can create a short circuit."
Barth cautioned Florida homeowners to plan for power interruptions that might prohibit them from charging their electric cars.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis advised electric car owners to move to higher ground before Hurricane Helen.
Tesla advised storing seawater-exposed vehicles at least 50 feet from residences and combustible objects until a technician can inspect them.
Sadly, Lisa Hodges' house is turned to ashes, and she says, "I'm happy we're alive. The home we built with all we had is gone."
