Preparing a Vehicle Emergency Kit

Disasters can strike anywhere at any time. You may be at work or at home or in your vehicle. Preparing for a disaster requires considering your location. If you only have an emergency kit at home and a disaster stikes while you’re en route to work, you haven’t thoroughly planned. Keeping a vehicle kit with you is a good way to keep emergency essentials on hand that can help you survive during a disaster situation. Being in a vehicle is a vulnerable place during a disaster or severe weather, so keeping surivial items with you when you travel in your vehicle can better equip you to handle a disaster and get help faster. Here are some items of consideration for putting together an emergency kit in your vehicle.

Communication Items

Cell phones lose service and run out of power, but they are still essential for any surivial kit. Keep a fully charged phone in your car at all times. Also, make sure you have a car charger so you can use the car battery to charge the phone if it dies. For the dedicated planner, a satellite phone is even better since it can be used anywhere. If a disaster strikes when you are in your vehicle, you will need to have a way of contacting emergency services, friends and family, and getting updates. Keep essential contact numbers stored in a safe place within the kit as well for easy access. A battery powered radio is not a bad idea if your car battery dies.

First Aid & Clothing

You should keep a first aid kit and extra clothing in your vehicle regardless of whether or not these are a part of an organized emergency kit. If a disaster strikes and you become injured or stranded in your vehicle, a first aid kit, blankets, and extra warm clothing can be invaluable and even lifesaving. These items can easily fit into a kit itself or be stored conveniently in the trunk or in a storage compartment within the vehicle. Keep first aid kits in the glove compartment or within reach from the driver’s seat to facilitate access if you become injured in a disaster.

Food, Water, Light

While you may not be able to keep a large quantity of food and water in your vehicle, having a supply for emergencies is a great idea. If you become stranded or incapacitated in some way and must wait for assistance, food rations and a water supply will make you more comfortable and can keep you alive. Pack high energy, caloric, non-perishable food items in your vehicle kit. Things like dried fruit, nuts, energy bars, jerky, and crackers are good options to keep your energy up after a disaster if you find yourself in a vehicle. Keep a couple small water jugs on hand as well. Flashlights, matches, and emergency flares are also items to consider keeping in your vehicle for obvious reasons. Assess how much space you have to work with in your vehicle and take some time to prepare a kit with the most essential surivival items.