Preparing for Disaster, Planning for Survival | Building the Car Kit

The children were outside playing and the adults were indoors cooking.

The evening sun was setting over a spectacular view of snow-capped mountains.

And someone was pounding on the door screaming:

 “Fire! Get out now!”

We called the kids inside, turned off the stove, grabbed our purses and car keys, and headed for the door.

We were vacationing on a ranch in the high desert of Oregon. Forest fires were somewhat common, and we figured one had sparked up nearby.

But it wasn’t a forest fire.

The Actual Fire. Photo by Flickr - ChinaRoadWarrior 

We walked out the door – me, my sister, our mother and our five tiny children – to flames reaching twenty or thirty feet into the sky. A vacation condo, two condos really, as well as a soaring fir tree, were completely engulfed in flames – just feet from where we stood. The heat was intense and the smell was intense and the sense of danger was very, very intense.

Wikimedia Commons

Are you prepared for tragedy?

What if you were away from home – on a road trip or a day trip or even just a trip to the store? Do you have what you need in your car to prevent an inconvenience from turning into a full-blown emergency?

Wikimedia Commons

September is National Preparedness Month and this is the second in a four part series of posts on Emergency Kits. Last week I wrote about a simple Under Bed Kit in case emergency strikes during the night. Being as woefully underprepared as reportedly 60% of Americans, I’m building my kits alongside you.

THE CAR KIT

This week we are building a Car Kit.

Some call it a Go Kit or a Grab-n-Go Kit, but I like to think of it as permanently in the car.

Basically you want to prepare for car trouble, especially during inclement weather or late night hours; sudden but extraordinary traffic jams, medical emergencies, or even a home evacuation. 

Plan for several hours to a couple days. Be prepared to walk.

THE CAR KIT
CONTAINER	Backpack   Box, Bin or Crate
SUPPLIES	Roadside Kit          Jumper Cables          Flares          Flashlight (preferably wind-up)       Reflective Signs         Basic Tools          Small Fire Extinguisher          Knife          Matches          Seat Belt Cutter/Escape Tool (awesome!)          A ready-made kit can be purchased at       any hardware or variety store
	Communication          Mobile Phone          Phone Charger          Whistle          Walkie Talkies          Quarters
	Winter Weather          Cat Litter or Sand          Folding Shovel          Ice Scraper          Space Blankets          Stocking Hat          Warm Gloves          Foldable Jacket          Tire Chains          Tarp
	Medical         Small First Aid Kit         Sunscreen         Bug Repellant         Emergency Medications         Ready-made First Aid Kits are available at         any variety store
	Food & Water          Pop Top Canned Goods          Power Bars          Nuts       Peanut Butter Crackers          Bottled Water
	Important Documents          Driver’s License          Auto Insurance Card          Auto Registration       Cash & Credit Cards
	Personal Care          Sunglasses          Corrective Glasses          Contact Case & Saline          Toilet Paper          Toothbrush          Toothpaste          Wet wipes          Hand Sanitizer
	Baby          Formula          Baby Food          Kid Food/Snacks          Diapers & Wipes          Change of Clothes          Blanket(s)          Comfort Item
	Pet         Collar with Tags & Leash         Food         Folding Water Bowl
	Just for Fun         Playing Cards         Pen & Paper
PLAN	Restock/rotate items twice a year   Keep car in good working order   Keep gas tank at least  ½ full   Agree on a communication plan with family   members   Always check weather reports before road   trips.

If this seems like a lot, make it easy on yourself. The American Red Cross sells complete kits, from the very basic to the very deluxe – backpack and all.

GO GET ONE NOW!

This summer I stocked a backpack for hiking, and since it contains many of the items on this list, I tossed it in the car and am letting it double as my Car Kit. 

Here’s a photo of it – along with some of the contents.

The fire I mentioned earlier was brought under control in a couple hours. There were no injuries but the condos did suffer significant damage.

 The rest of our vacation was particularly enjoyable. The fire was one of those reminders that we can’t take anything for granted. 

And to be prepared, of course.

Come back next week for the STAY AT HOME KIT.

The following week will be the very important IDENTITY KIT.

By the way, the following websites have loads of information about disaster preparedness:

The American Red Cross

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Ready.gov (a part of FEMA)

EmergencyKits.com

Survival Supply