Being Prepared: Emergency Kit for your Vehicle

As temperatures all over North America are dropping to single digits and lower, I can't help but think about the unfortunate people that are already suffering or will be suffering over the next few days. In some areas, thousands are already without power in their homes as frozen trees have taken out power lines. Being prepared for emergencies at home is a post I will write later, but today I want to focus on being prepared as you move from point A to point B in your vehicle.

Most Americans hop in their cars daily and don't think twice about all of the "what ifs" that could happen as they drive from one place to another. So many people don't even have insurance! That's the first step to being prepared! Accidents aren't called "planned interferences" because they are ACCIDENTS.

• To start your vehicle emergency kit, first you need to clean out your vehicle to make room for your emergency supplies. There is no point in having supplies if you can't find the things you need when you need them.

• Purchase or assemble a standard vehicle emergency kit. At minimum, it should include:

• Jumper cables
• Tire pressure gauge 
• Tire repair kit (might help you get to the next town)
• Flares
• Headlamp and spare batteries
• Reflective vest

• Purchase a basic survival kit. We keep two of these Ready America Grab 'n Go Emergency Kit 2-Person Backpacks under our backseat. The kit includes:

• 33-piece first aid kit
• 3 days of emergency food and water for 2 people (two 2400 calorie food bars and six 8.45 oz water boxes)
• 2 light sticks
• 2 dust masks
• 2 pair nitrile gloves
• Whistle
• Ponchos

• Your main method of contact during an emergency will likely be your cell phone, so it's a good idea to keep a spare charger in your glove compartment or center console.

• Hand-crank or battery radio (with spare batteries) so you know what to expect with the weather. Some also work as cell phone chargers.

• Maps. Sometimes, your GPS just might not work.

• A compass. Like I said, sometimes your GPS might not work. 

• Multipurpose tool because you never know what you will need.

• Cash in case you need to pay for fuel or other supplies.

• Gasoline container in case you need to walk to get fuel.

• Work gloves.

• WD-40 to loosen tight bolts.

• Kitty litter can provide traction if you become stuck in the mud or snow.

• Toilet paper.

• Small/camp shovel (helps with disposing of toilet paper, among other things). ;-p

• Small fire extinguisher. It could help keep a small fire from becoming a big problem. 

• Towels. Who wants to be soaking wet in their stranded car?

• Duct tape. Because you should always have duct tape.

• If you have small children, you will also need diapers, wipes, and age-appropriate snacks. 

During frigid times like these, it's also a good idea to have:

• Blankets.

• Hand and toe warmers.

• Hats/beanies/scarves.

• Clothes (think warm layers)/spare coats.

• Sturdy shoes.

• Ice scraper.

• A way to light a fire outside your vehicle. I recently heard of a man who kept his family warm while stranded in the snow by lighting a fire outside of the car, heating rocks, and then placing the rocks inside a tire in the car to keep the interior warm. I don't know if I ever would have thought of that, but it definitely helped that family!

We drive an SUV so we don't really have a "trunk". The larger items, like the backpacks and ice scraper are stored under the backseat. The other items are stored in a plastic office file box in the back next to a case of water and the kitty litter.

One other suggestion (which I wish my husband would take to heart since he is in the car for work literally every day for work) is to keep your gas tank at least halfway full at all times. You won't get too far using your vehicle to evacuate in an emergency if you only have a few miles worth of gas!

Hopefully, you find this helpful and take the steps necessary to protect your family and yourself in your vehicle.