Where is the Safest Place to Park During a Typhoon? Will Underground Garages Flood?
TyphoonSays·防御问答 · Prepared Defense · 更新 at 2026-07-16
When a typhoon strikes, the safety of your vehicle is often one of the biggest concerns for car owners. Facing strong winds and heavy rain, choosing the right parking spot not only protects your property but also helps avoid unnecessary dangers. Below, we outline scientific parking recommendations and assess the risks associated with underground garages.
Prioritize High Ground and Open Spaces; Avoid "Dangerous Neighbors"
The core principles for parking during a typhoon are: "avoid wind, avoid water, and avoid falling objects." The ideal location is a parking lot on high ground with a hard surface and open surroundings. If conditions allow, prioritize upper levels of indoor parking structures or outdoor parking spots that are significantly higher than the surrounding roads.
Be sure to stay away from the following "high-risk" areas:
- Under tall trees and billboards: Strong winds can easily cause branches to break or billboards to collapse, damaging vehicles.
- Next to old walls and buildings: Typhoons bring powerful gusts, and structurally unsound walls pose a risk of collapse.
- Low-lying areas and underpasses: These areas collect rainwater and are prone to deep flooding, which can submerge vehicles or cause engines to stall.
- Near seaside or river embankments: Typhoons are often accompanied by storm surges; seawater backflow or rising river levels can instantly submerge vehicles.
Underground Garages Are Not Absolutely Safe; Beware of Backflow Risks
Regarding the question "Will underground garages flood?", the answer is yes: in cases of extreme rainfall or drainage system failure, underground garages indeed face serious risks of water ingress. Although modern residential underground garages are typically equipped with flood barriers and drainage pumps, these facilities may be overwhelmed during rainfall exceeding design standards or when municipal pipe networks experience backpressure.
If you must park in an underground garage, please note the following:
- Observe the entrance elevation: Check if the garage entrance has raised flood thresholds and whether surrounding drainage ditches are clear.
- Monitor warning signals: When meteorological departments issue Red Rainstorm Warnings or high-level Typhoon Warnings (specific criteria may vary by locality; refer to local government announcements), some cities advise residents to avoid using underground spaces. If the garage is located in a low-lying area, it is recommended to move your vehicle to higher ground in advance.
- Keep communication lines open: Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged so you can receive notifications from property management or call for help in emergencies.
Emergency Preparedness and Post-Event Handling
In addition to choosing the right location, preventive measures beforehand are equally important. It is advisable to check before the typhoon arrives that all windows are fully closed and that sunroof seals are not aged or damaged. If your vehicle unfortunately stalls after entering water, remember strictly prohibited to restart the engine. Doing so can cause severe engine damage, and insurance companies typically deny claims for such incidents.
Furthermore, after parking, it is best to take photos of the vehicle from all angles and of the odometer as potential evidence for insurance claims. After the typhoon passes, if the vehicle has been submerged, contact professional rescue services for towing first. Have professionals inspect the electrical circuits and mechanical components; do not attempt to start the ignition yourself.
Disaster prevention is no small matter; planning your parking location in advance can minimize losses to the greatest extent. Real-time typhoon tracks can be checked at TyphoonSays (taifengshuo.com)
This article is typhoonsay's original copy content, and the local policy standards are based on the local government's latest release.