While it is often forgotten, your vehicle is one of your best assets in your safety inventory. to maximize that benefit to your family, it's important to keep your car or truck in good running condition and stocked with an emergency supply kit.
The first order of business is to keep your car in tip-top shape. This means making sure belts aren't worn, and keeping your tires inflated, your fluid levels where they should be, and your brakes in good condition. You'll also want to make sure that your ignition system and battery have plenty of life left in them as well.
Should you encounter an emergency you'll need to evacuate fast. You may not have the liberty of being able to address these things when an emergency strikes, so it's up to you to make sure you can depend on your vehicle. It's also smart to keep your fuel tank full if the danger of an emergency increases, so you won't have to stop in long lines to fill up.
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Emergency kit
Your car may serve as a temporary shelter as you look for safety. It's smart to have a kit ready to go in your car so that you won't have to pack. This should include at least 24 hours of food and water per person. You can purchase a ready-made automotive safety kit that has all these things in it, or build your own. You'll need a gallon of water per person, emergency rations, baby food, hygiene articles, toilet paper, and pet food, for starters. You'll also need tools. Consider a shovel, jumper cables, tow chain, road flares, fire extinguisher, whistle, a battery operated radio and flashlight (and batteries for both). It's also smart to have plastic bags for storage, and rain gear. For your comfort, mylar blankets and plastic shelter tarps can come in very handy. You may spend a very long time in traffic, so be sure to bring games and activities for the kids, and even for adults. Music and movies can go a long way in killing the boredom. My personal favorite is a deck of cards. They are compact, durable and good for any number of games.
In the confusion and stress of trying to get away, and with what is likely to be very nasty weather, accidents are very common in the crowded escape routes out of town. Keep your headlights on and your tank full. Get as early of a start as you can, and don't expect to out-drive the weather conditions, or your neighbors. Leave plenty of room to stop and break carefully, as your stopping distance will be much longer in bad weather.
In the case of winter driving, your kit will need extra items: tire chains, a scraper, and maybe even a bag of sand for emergency traction. Carry extra winter clothing. Never use cruise control in winter conditions. Don't be over confident in a four-wheel drive vehicle, either. You can lose traction just as easily as a normal vehicle on an icy road! Last, always remember the most important rule of winter survival and comfort: stay dry!
