Recently, winter storms left drivers stranded on interstate highways in their cars— sometimes without food or water—for up to 48 hours. What can you do to prepare for such an emergency?
One hour of fair-weather shopping can spare you hours of misery if you found yourself stuck in your car during flooding or snowstorms. Furthermore, what may cost a few dollars at a gas station or general store could save hundreds in towing fees or thousands in hospital bills.
Make yourself a car emergency kit, and you may want to keep it in a canvass bag, or plastic storage container to allow for easy transfer between vehicles.
The 7 basics
- Water bottles, gallons of them
- Non-perishable high energy foods (nuts, granola, sardines, beef jerky, power bars, etc.)
- Battery-powered flashlight (with extra batteries) and a car phone charger
- Jumper cables (if your car battery dies)
- Ice scraper (to clear the windows before the traffic gets moving again)
- Personal hygiene products
- Blankets and warm clothing, like extra socks, hats, hand warmers—also a candle and matches to provide heat if gas is low
These items will prepare you for normal conditions as well, especially if we accidentally leave the lights in our car on, and the battery dies (and you are grateful for the jumper cables).
Water is not only great to have in case you need to quench your thirst. A gallon can save your car from overheating in case something goes wrong with the coolant.
Paper towels, period products, diapers, soap, and bags to stow trash can be important for several reasons. Soap not only allows one to stay germ-free, but scrubbing long enough will remove gasoline if it gets on your hands.
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The Five Cs
An old preparatory rule is to follow the Five Cs: “Cutting, Combustion, Covering, Container, Cordage.”
A cutting tool is more important on a hiking trip than a car emergency, but the second C, a combustion device, (matches or a lighter) is vital as it leads to fire, which is the ticket to warmth, rescue, and comfort in almost any emergency situation. Be sure to put a candle and plenty of matches in the car, which can provide heat if your car needs to be shut down to preserve gas.
Covering could mean a winter coat and hat, a blanket, or even a tarp. Remaining warm is key, but what you don’t need to wear can be used to insulate the windows. If you think keeping a blanket in your car is overdoing it, just imagine sleeping in January without a blanket on your bed. Store several blankets for passengers and yourself.
Containers are arguably the most important tool in a car emergency. Without a funnel for example, it’s difficult to pour gasoline or other important oils into a car tank or engine if you don’t have a gas can. A container to melt snow into water, if stuck on a wintery highway for 48 hours, is also important.
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Cordage in a lost hiker scenario would mean simple nylon rope, but in a car breakdown one is probably better off with something capable of towing, or lashing something down to a roof rack: think tow lines and bungie cords.
Ready if your car gets stuck in the snow
For those who live in remote areas, this kit may not be enough. Here are some things for the motorist who needs to prepare for roads that remain snowed over for weeks.
- Portable battery or crank-powered radio
- Tire chains for icy roads
- Tire inflator
- Solar-powered device charger
- Water purifying supplies
- Bag of cat litter or sand
It’s difficult, especially for younger people, to remember the utility the radio once had. If cell towers are down, how will you get information on weather or emergency services? Running your car radio will draw battery away, so a battery or crank-powered radio can keep the stranded motorist informed.
Winter tires or tire chains are actually obligatory in some locales, and are sold in a 12×12 box to stow in the truck. They are a bit expensive, but cheaper than a tow, and cheaper than a set of winter tires. Plus they can turn nearly any car no matter how dinky into an ice road warrior.
Portable compressors to re-inflate tires may not save you the cost of changing your tire, but can offer a 10 minute to two-hour mobility boost, depending on the size of the puncture, to get out of a tough situation like falling into a ditch.
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Water purification tablets often contain iodine, and are usually pretty cheap. The homesteader may opt for a more permanent solution like the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration system that can fit onto the threads of most water bottles, and is guaranteed to filter 99.9% of bacteria and heavy metals across a lifespan of 8 million liters.
In case your car needs traction on a patch of ice to get out of jam, carry some cat litter or sand—they can be poured around the wheels to provide better traction on slick roads.
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At no cost fireplace ashes act the same as kitty litter.