Spring Hailstorm Vehicle Recovery in Dallas — What to Do After Golf Ball Hail

North Texas winters are mild most years — and brutal on the rare occasions when they're not. The February 2021 winter storm demonstrated what happens when vehicles that were never winterized are exposed to sustained sub-freezing temperatures. Batteries that were marginal at normal temperatures failed instantly. Coolant systems that hadn't been serviced in years froze. Diesel fuel gelled on vehicles that didn't have fuel heaters.

For DFW drivers, basic winter prep means three things: test and potentially replace the battery before November, confirm your coolant mixture is at least 50% antifreeze (a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water is effective to -34°F), and keep your fuel tank at least half full during freeze watches to prevent fuel line issues. These steps cost almost nothing and eliminate the vast majority of cold-weather breakdown risk.

Texas is one of the most flood-prone states in the US, and North Texas's clay-heavy soil and urban impervious cover make the DFW area particularly vulnerable to flash flooding. The National Weather Service's 'Turn Around, Don't Drown' campaign exists because an estimated half of all Texas flash flood fatalities involve someone driving into water.

Six inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet. Twelve inches of flowing water can carry a small car. If you encounter a flooded roadway, treat it as impassable regardless of how shallow it appears. The bottom may be undermined, the current stronger than it looks, and electrical hazards may be present. Turn around, find an alternate route, and wait it out. No appointment is worth your life.

A breakdown in a Dallas summer without air conditioning can become a medical emergency remarkably fast. Temperatures inside a parked car in July can reach 130°F within 10 minutes. If your vehicle breaks down in extreme heat and you're waiting for a tow, stay inside as long as the car holds any residual cooling effect, keep windows slightly open for air circulation, and drink water continuously.

If you have a pet or child in the vehicle and the interior temperature is rising rapidly, your personal safety should override any concern about leaving the vehicle. Exit the vehicle onto the far side from traffic, move to shade if available, and call 911 if you believe someone's health is at immediate risk. Our dispatchers will flag medical-emergency calls for priority routing.