Hurricane Helene made landfall late Thursday night as a Category 4 storm near Perry, Florida. The hurricane caused a significant storm surge, severe winds, and torrential rain. Since then, Helene has weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland early this morning. As of Friday, September 27, approximately 4.2 million homes and businesses across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic were without power, according to PowerOutages.us.
Recommended Actions for Our Clients
To help keep your fleet operational and safe, we recommend the following actions:
- Fuel Cards & Rental Vehicles: Consider adjusting limits on fuel cards and rental vehicle usage. Due to potential fuel shortages, drivers may need to refuel more frequently. For assistance with removing fuel card restrictions or adjusting rental approvals, please contact your Wheels Account Team.
Updates from the Field
- Vehicles at Dealers and Upfitters: We are actively identifying vehicles in the storm’s path and will reach out to assess any potential impacts once the storm passes.
- Manufacturing Plants and Ports: Toyota’s port in Jacksonville was closed on Wednesday and Thursday. Both facilities are now scheduled to reopen today at 11:00 AM, while the facility near Atlanta will remain closed for the day. Vehicle carriers are expected to resume operations as conditions allow pending status at the delivery locations.
- Fuel: We are monitoring fuel partner reports for critical station activity and key information. Some Travel Center stations in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina have temporarily closed.
- Roadside Assistance: The Driver Services team is fully prepared to handle increased volumes. In most areas, our 24/7/365 emergency roadside services are operating as normal. In select heavily affected areas, where local authorities have declared emergencies, roadside providers have temporarily suspended dispatch operations. In these emergency events, we are ready to assist with the support of local emergency services.
Important Reminders
- Fuel Shortages & Price Increases: Fuel shortages may occur, and prices may temporarily rise in affected areas.
- Roadside Assistance: Our roadside assistance services are prioritizing emergency situations during the storm.
- EV Charging Apps: If you have electric vehicles, EV charging apps can help locate available stations along evacuation routes.
- Rental Vehicle Availability: Rental vehicles may be scarce in certain regions.
Ongoing Support
The Wheels Hurricane Task Force is closely monitoring the situation and will provide timely updates as needed. We are committed to providing updates as the situation evolves. Your drivers’ safety remains our top priority. If you have questions or need additional support, please reach out to your Wheels Account Team.
Up Next