• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged EV drivers to park their cars on higher ground in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Helene.
  • DeSantis warned drivers that allowing saltwater to get into an EV’s battery pack could cause fires.
  • At least 10 people have been reported dead so far after the Category 4 hurricane battered Florida with winds of up to 140 mph.

Florida has been hunkering down for the arrival of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on Thursday night leaving multiple people dead. But as if Floridians didn’t have enough to worry about in the run up to the nightmare weather event, Governor Ron DeSantis issued instructions that some might have struggled to obey.

DeSantis was concerned about the risk of saltwater getting into EV batteries and causing fires that are difficult to put out at a time when fire services are going to be stretched to the max. So he suggested that EV drivers park their cars on higher ground to keep them clear of water. Which is easier said then done when you live in a state that research says makes even Kansas look like Colorado.

Related: Man Punched After Saying ‘Nice Car’ To Dodge Challenger Driver In Florida

Florida’s roads contain 255,000 EVs, according to the US Department of Energy, making it the second most popular state for electric vehicles. California has 1.2 million EVs and third-placed Texas, just over 230,000. And a significant 42,000 of Florida’s electric cars are located in the Tampa Bay area, a region that was expecting to experience high water levels resulting from storm surges, Fast Company reports.

Since we’re all told from a young age that water and electricity don’t mix, the prospect of being caught in a storm in or near an EV could be alarming. But Citrus County Fire Rescue put out a Facebook post to assure residents that a submerged EV doesn’t electrify water. It can, however catch fire, and it cautioned people to be alert for smoke or popping and whistling noises coming from any EV that has been in contact with water that has now drained away.

Helene is the first Category 4 storm to strike Florida’s Big Bend Region since records began in 1851, USA Today reported hurricane scientist Phil Klotzbach saying. Storm surges raised water levels to 20 ft (6.1 m) in places and winds up of to 140 mph (225 km/h) were recorded.

It has since weakened to a 45 mph (71 km/h) tropical storm as it moved into Georgia and the Carolinas, but has left a trail of destruction in its wake. At least 10 people are reported dead in multiple states and more than 4.4 million homes are without power.