New Zealand has declared a state of emergency.
If you ever drive a car that is flooded, you may notice a terrible smell. It is probably due to all the water inside the car.
The water must break down some of the materials in the vehicle, including plastic and carpet. This causes it to smell bad for a short period of time.
Many people will be looking to buy new cars, as they have had to write off their cars, due to the flood and mechanical and water damage to their vehicles was extensive.
Prices for new cars are expected to surge due to increased demand for new and used cars.
If a car has been underwater for a short time, it can look like the paint has run down the car and into the ground. This is because the water has softened the paint slightly.
When a car is damaged, the odometer can be a useful piece of gear to check. The odometer can read how many miles the vehicle has on it.
Many flood vehicles have a severely damaged odometer that appears to have no more numbers on it. You can look through the “0”s and “1”s to see if they have any remaining life signs!
The sunken in paint can also extend into the ground where it may have protected some of the internal systems from damage. This is what happens with newer cars that have been professionally detailed and insured to be road worthy.
Another hazard is driving on flooded roads, but when the flood affects an entire city, like Auckland it turns into a national disaster zone.
Insurance companies are overwhelmed and have transferred workers from overseas branches, to New Zealand, to handle the state of emergency.
