After losing her car in the flood, Rahel Abraham created the ClimaGuard.
Water and cars do not mix. excess corrosion and electrical problems can quickly follow once water has reached the interior. The consequences can be dangerous. Flood-damaged cars are often totaled by insurance companies, even though they may look normal. Although it’s not a good situation, it can be more difficult to give up your car if it’s in good condition than having it destroyed.
There is a way to prevent such situations. Rahel Abraham, an engineer from Texas, knows firsthand the difficulties of dealing with flooding after she lost her car in 2008. After combining her expertise in chemical engineering and environmental engineering, she created the ClimaGuard. She studied different materials to ensure longevity and water resistance. It’s basically a large bag that you can simply drive over and then zip up to keep water away. There’s more to it.
Although zippers won’t keep water out of your car, The Drive reports that the location of your zipper is important in the ClimaGuard design. The zipper is placed above the waterline so that the car can float if the waters get to a certain depth. The ClimaGuard should be able to withstand any torrential rains, so long as the water does not come roaring in. The protection doesn’t stop at cars. Tie-downs keep the car in its place while floating. It can hold any number of items, as it acts like a tarp.
This may look familiar because we have reported on a similar designfrom a Philippine company in 2017. It’s also known as the Flood Guard Car Bag. It requires at least two people to put it together, while Abraham’s ClimaGuard is quick and easy to put together.
This could make the difference between saving your car and losing it in a flash flood situation. At $400, it seems like a reasonable bit of security for those living in areas that are susceptible to flooding.