Hurricane Idalia
Update Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Idalia has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with 80 mph sustained winds. The storm is predicted to have landfall between Tampa and Tallahassee as a Category 3, before moving north/northeast through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. As with prior storms, Idalia’s path and intensity can change quickly.
A state of emergency has been declared in Florida in 46 counties. North Carolina has declared a state of emergency, and Georgia has activated their emergency operations center.
We encourage you to stay up to date with local news and weather advisories. Visit accuweather.com for the latest storm tracking.
Update Monday, August 28, 2023
Hurricane Idalia is currently predicted to impact Florida, on Wednesday, August 30 as a Category 3 hurricane and continue to Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina through Thursday.
A state of emergency has been declared in Florida in 33 counties. We expect other states to declare states of emergency over the next day or so as the track and intensity of this storm becomes more certain.
We encourage you to stay up to date with local news and weather advisories. Visit accuweather.com for the latest storm tracking.
CEI is monitoring the storm as it intensifies over the coming days and will provide updates as the situation changes. Our contact centers remain ready and available to assist fleet drivers as needed.
Monitor these links to keep track of storm information and the latest updates in the impacted states:
Important note for drivers: The State of Florida requires a valid drivers license in order to rent vehicles. If you lost your license in the storm, please visit the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles website for information prior to renting.
Driver Resource Center
Driver Tips
- Keep in mind that: services such as roadside assistance, repairs and gas stations may be restricted or delayed during and after a severe weather event.
- Buy fuel before the storm hits: Find gas stations that are open and selling fuel with GasBuddy’s station locator here
- Don’t drive during a hurricane
- “Turn around and don’t drown” – don’t drive through flooded roads and avoid downed wires
- Get vehicles to a safe area at a higher elevation, if possible, to avoid flood damage
- Use company standard reporting process should your vehicle sustain storm damage
Helpful Tip – What to Do If Your Vehicle Has Been Flooded
- Do NOT attempt to start your vehicle. In certain vehicles, an attempt to start the vehicle after flooding could inadvertently deploy the airbag and cause injury to the driver.
- First, look for signs of flooding. Check your vehicle’s interior for signs of silt deposits. You might find it on or underneath floor mats, in seatback pockets, consoles, the glove box, and any compartment that is not watertight. Any damp areas or items inside the vehicle may be signs of water infiltration.
- At a body repair shop, experts can remove certain parts from your vehicle to determine how high the flood waters reached, and the specific damage incurred.
If you suspect your vehicle has been flooded, contact CEI at 1-800-227-0101 for assistance.
What CEI Is Doing to Help
If your drivers are impacted by Hurricane Idalia, here are areas where we can assist:
- Prioritizing impacted drivers: Our team is prepared for a potential influx of calls from the area impacted by the storm. Our call centers will prioritize calls from area codes in the storm path to ensure propmpt service.
- Updates from body shops: We are reaching out to our partners in the region. Our team will reach out to repair shops who have customer vehicle repairs in progress – these are particularly vulnerable to additional damage. Should mandatory evacuations and storm related issues occur, you should expect delays or closure of accident repair suppliers as well as parts suppliers, auction facilities, rental car companies, and other collision-related suppliers.
- Rental Cars: Work with CEI representatives on rental vehicle requests. We have representatives who are prioritizing CEI driver requests.
- If you can’t find your company standard contact information for CEI or your fleet manager, call us at 1-800-227-0101 and we will get you to the right resources!
CEI will continue to monitor the situation and provide additional updates as the situation changes. If you have questions, please contact your CEI account representative.
