Hurricane Ian has been ravaging the US state of Florida, causing catastrophic flooding and leaving two million properties without power.
The storm which is around 225km (140mi) wide brought 240km/h (150mph) winds to the south-west part of the state, but was downgraded from category 4 to category 1 as it moved north-east.
Showing just how powerful the flooding is, photos have emerged of a rare McLaren P1 destroyed in the storm.
READ MORE: This $3 million supercar collection was destroyed by Miami floods
The vehicle was only just purchased by its current owner around a week ago with just 480km (300mi) on the clock.
At the time the flooding caused by Hurricane Ian hit the owner’s house, the car was in the garage.
However, the flooding was so catastrophic the entire ground floor of the house was underwater.
The current from it was so powerful, it then pulled the car out of the fully-submerged garage.
The McLaren then lay outside next to a tree, with water reaching up to its rear deck lid.
Just one day before, the owner had been using the yellow P1 as his ‘hurricane supply car’ as he prepared for the storm.
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However, nothing could’ve prevented the car from being destroyed by such powerful flooding here.
Only 375 examples of the P1 were ever made. When new, they were priced at $1,350,000 but now sell for as much as $2.9 million.
How to protect yourself and your car in a hurricane
The damage caused by Hurricane Ian serves as a powerful reminder of how important it is to be prepared and aware if you live in a hurricane-prone area.
The most important thing to remember is not to drive into floodwater.
If you can’t see the road at the bottom of the water, it’s too deep to drive through, and you risk not only damaging your car but putting your life in danger.
But if you do get trapped in your car in floodwaters, you should:
- Remain calm.
- Turn on your headlights and hazard lights to make the car more visible.
- Unbuckle your seatbelt and unlock your doors.
- Remove heavy clothing items such as jackets.
- Slowly open the window of the car. If it won’t open, you’ll have to use a door, but don’t try to force it open. You’ll have to open it a tiny bit and let the car fill with water to equalize the pressure so you can open it.
- Swim to safety and phone emergency services.
If it is safe to remain in your home but the power is out, you may be able to use an electric vehicle to power your house. This is something touted by Ford with its F-150 Lightning.
If you have left your house because it is unsafe to remain there and are camping out in your car, remember to park clear of any trees, lamp posts, or anything else that could fall on it.
Not only will this damage the car, but most importantly, it risks leaving you injured if you’re inside.
