As I type this post, the governor of Georgia has declared a state of emergency for the entire state and the National Guard has been mobilized. Motorists have been stranded in their cars for 16 hours due to total gridlock on the highways and a layer of ice that blankets the entire city. I am glad my family is safe at home and praying that the situation gets better for those stuck in the thick of it. People have abandoned their cars on the highway to find shelter in neighboring stores or with families in the area who have opened their doors for those in need. Millions are sitting it out in their cars, dealing with freezing temperatures, hungry kids, and full bladders.
The situation has really got me wondering what *I* would do if I were stuck in my car in this weather for any length of time. I am from New England…I grew up with subzero temperatures and the threat of snow on a regular basis. However, I have lived in the south for so long that I have become complacent. I keep some emergency supplies in my house but I think it is time to create a winter car emergency kit in case I am ever one of those unlucky motorists stuck in their cars in the middle of winter. So, today I am doing research on what types of things I should stock in my winter car emergency kit and as soon as it is safe to drive out there again I will be stocking up. This situation may never happen again but if it does, I want to be prepared!
Winter Car Emergency Kit
1. Food: You can invest in dehydrated foods and MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) if you really want to be prepared long term but honestly a box of crackers, some beef jerky, dried fruit, etc. will probably be enough for a winter car emergency kit. Just make sure you check your supplies on a regular basis to ensure freshness.
2. Water: I am not a fan of bottled water but I will be buying a few bottles to keep in my winter car emergency kit anyhow. It is sterile and will remain fresh and safe for a significant amount of time. If you regularly drive in remote areas you may want to consider packing an activated carbon filter of some sort. You can filter stream water if you need to stay hydrated for any length of time.
3. Blankets: Many places like sporting goods stores have thermal blankets that help trap body heat or use the heat from the sun to amplify your body heat. If you are driving in rural areas this may be a good idea. For us city folks, a nice thick blanket from the spare bedroom is probably sufficient.
4. Flashlights: The people currently stuck on the highways in Georgia have been there all night. I cannot imaging sitting in my car in the complete darkness and not being able to see what is happening outside my windows. The battery on your car only lasts so long so don’t count on headlights or interior car lights for light in an emergency. Don’t forget extra batteries, too. Matches and candles might not be a bad idea either.
5. First Aid Kit: This should have the basics of bandages, ibuprofen, rubbing alcohol swabs, etc. Even better for your winter car emergency kit would be a comprehensive medical kit that has everything you might need in case of severe trauma. I hope I never need such a thing because I do not deal well with the site of blood and I think I would need to keep my own personal paramedic in the trunk in case of this sort of emergency.
6. Battery Powered Radio: Just finding out what is going on during a crisis can help you figure out how to deal with your own personal situation. A battery powered (or crank-style or solar powered) radio will let you know how emergency personal are handling a situation.
7. Snow removal supplies: Shovels, ice scrapers, lock de-icers, etc will come in handy if you live in an area prone to snow and ice. A bag of kitty litter or salt/sand to provide traction to your tires is a good idea as well.
8. Jumper cables: Many of the people who had to ditch their cars on the highways in our current Georgia crisis had to do so because of dead batteries. Keep a set of jumper cables in your car for this kind of issue.
9: Attention getters: If you are stuck in metro Atlanta, people will have no touble finding you, even if they can’t do anything to help you. If you are stuck in a particularly remote area you may need help getting attention. Keep emergency flares, reflectors, fluorescent distress flags and a whistle to attract attention. Make sure you travel with a map of the area (a real paper one!) in case you have to leave your car and head for civilization. Knowing which way the closest town is will be helpful.
10. Extra cell phone adapter: Try to keep your car charger in your car at all times. Even if your car is not moving you should be able to turn it on enough to use the car’s battery to charge your phone and call for help.
A winter car emergency kit will help in some situations but common sense must apply when deciding whether to travel. And make sure your car has snow tires, a full tank of gas and is in good running shape if you are heading somewhere when snow is expected. I may even throw a roll of toilet paper in my winter car emergency kit because those people stuck on the highways for 16 hours can only hold it for so long. Of course, there aren’t a lot of trees off the interstate…..