CENTREVILLE, Va. -

With the industry still sifting through units impacted by Hurricanes Florence and Michael, Carfax shared new information on Thursday, highlighting how many vehicles damaged by flooding remain operation.

Compared to this point last year after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit the U.S., Carfax reported 478,000 flooded vehicles on the road; a figure that represents a 47-percent spike year-over-year.

Carfax indicated Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Louisiana are the states where flood-damaged vehicles are most prevalent.

Carfax added that the specific cities where the highest penetration of flooded units remain in operation include Houston, New York, Miami, Philadelphia and Dallas.

“Flooded cars rot from the inside out, likely causing safety, health and financial problems for unsuspecting buyers of these waterlogged wrecks,” Carfax said.

This summer, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer delivered a letter to the Federal Trade Commission to outline his significant concerns about what the New York lawmaker dubbed, “hurricane cars.”

Schumer fears scores of vehicles damaged during previous hurricanes currently are in dealership inventory. Therefore, the powerful Senator wants the FTC to increase the regulatory capability of the Used Car Rule already in place in an effort to keep flooded vehicles from being retailed.

“While the FTC has been sounding the alarm on ‘hurricane cars,’ consumers are still at risk of being duped and burdened by a financial road of ruin if they unknowingly buy one,” Schumer said in a news release distributed back in July. “That’s why the FTC needs to drive forward with more than a consumer warning and hit the gas on a plan that uses the ‘Used Car Rule’ already on the books to ensure that the sticker slapped on every used car in a lot details a robust ‘flood check.’”

To help dealers spot flood-damaged vehicle, AutoCheck Auctions offered more than a dozen recommendations after Florence deluged the Carolinas in September.

Before Michael ripped through the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and other parts of the Southeast, Cox Automotive estimated at least 20,000 units likely were damaged.