A few months ago we discussed how to prepare for long (and short) summer road trips. But this summer has been a wild ride on the roads. From flash floods turning highways into rivers, to power lines downed by storms with multi-hour backups in the aftermath, road travel this year has been more intense than usual. While those posts are still detailed and relevant, I wanted to add this updated guide with fresh insights and reliable government resources for a safe, smoother trip.
Before I get started, here’s a list of the posts I’ve recently written to help you prepare for all kinds of travel this summer… and into the fall and holiday seasons.
🚗 Summer Travel Troubles: What’s New—and What You Can Do
🌧️ 1. Monitor the Weather Before and During Your Trip
Storms are bigger, faster, and messier this year, from record-breaking rains in the Southeast to surprise tornadoes in the Midwest. Then there’s Tropical Storm Chantal bearing down and the terrible tragedies occurring in Texas from those flash floods. One of the first things you can do is actively monitor the weather. Not just the day you leave, but keeping track of weather updates along your route and once at your destination. It seems silly to write that since it’s common sense, but sometimes the excitement–and stress–of traveling keeps me distracted and I forget the basics.
📍 Tip: Check live alerts from the National Weather Service and local emergency management sites.
📍 Tip: Buy and keep a solar/battery-powered radio in the car. I like this one. It’s not expensive (and Prime Day is on until July 11) and has multiple ways to charge. It includes a flashlight, smart phone chargers, and you can get weather and hazard updates from 7 NOAA stations in real time.
🛑 Bookmark: FEMA’s Disaster Alerts and NOAA Weather Radar
🛣️ 2. Plan Alternate Routes and Stay Road-Aware
Flooding and downed trees can shut down your main route quickly. Use your state’s 511 travel system or DOT app to check real-time closures. For example: Virginia 511, California 511, or search “[your state] 511”.
📍 Tip: Print or download alternate routes before you lose cell signal in rural areas. Or even buy paper maps from local gas stations along your route–yes, they are still printed and sold and they’ve saved us time and hassles are than once.
🛑 Bookmark: Federal Highway Administration: 511 Links
⚡ 3. Know What to Do Around Downed Power Lines
Summer storms = more trees falling on lines. Stay at least 30 feet away from any line, even if it “looks off.” Last week I wrote a blog post about this topic and you can find it here.
🚨 If you see a downed line: Call 911 or your local utility provider immediately. Do not touch anything nearby—including fences or puddles.
🛑 Bookmark: Ready.gov Power Outage Safety
🧊 4. Pack a Summer “Car Emergency Kit”
Even if you’re not heading cross-country, keep a stocked vehicle kit and don’t forget to customize it for your region and passengers, including kids, pets, and older adults–or any other person who has mobility or medical issues. Below is the absolute basics to have in the car.
- Bottled water, shelf-stable snacks
- First aid supplies
- Phone charger + backup power bank
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Printed map or state highway atlas
- Tire pressure gauge
- Emergency radio (separate from the car’s radio)
🛑 Bookmark: FEMA’s checklist: Emergency Supply List
🛑 Bookmark: My blog post about Travel Emergency First Aid Kids
🌊 5. Never Drive Through Floodwater
The rule still applies in 2025: Turn around, don’t drown. Just 6 inches of water can stall your car. One foot can sweep it away. And if you’re caught in a flash flood zone, get to higher ground as fast as you can. Don’t wait to see what will happen–just run.
🛑 Bookmark: National Weather Service Flood Safety
📲 6. Get Emergency Alerts Straight to Your Phone
Sign up for Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) through your smartphone or local emergency management system. That way you’ll be the first to know about weather warnings, evacuations, and more even if you’re not watching the news. The FEMA link below leads to a main page that walks you through the history of the Emergency Alert System and how to use it. From there, you can click on other pages of the website with more specific information about the program. But if you have time, read the FAQs. They’re a little bit concerning in a tragically humorous kind of way.
🛑 Bookmark: FEMA’s Alert System Overview
