I have to confess something, I’ve never been much of a reader or follower of the whole bug out bag thing or movement. If things get bad due to natural disasters, government failure, or some other catastrophe, I plan on staying in my home.
I think we’ll be far better off at our home, even without power or support from the outside world. We’re pretty self-sufficient as is and have went two weeks without power during a winter mudslide. We know our neighbors, I grew up with over half of them, and believe having a community of people who will support one another is far better than hiding out somewhere.
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Now, I realize this isn’t the scenario for everyone. Stay with me here for a minute. We live rural. You might live in the middle of the city. This is where everyone has to take a look at their own situation and scenario and decide what is truly best for them and their family. Because it’s not all one size fits all.
In light of this revelation, I have never put too much energy into a bug out location and stocking said location.
Then we entered into this summer. We’re in the most severe drought Washington State has ever had since they began recording weather in the 1890’s here. Pretty much the worst drought ever. Update: We were just blessed with three days of rain, and not a moment too soon.
We’ve had no rain and because we normally our drenched for the most of the year, hello Pacific Northwest and western side of the state, we don’t have things like irrigation put into place. Water has always been an abundant resource here.
Enter August. Our state has been declared a state of National Emergency due to the wild fires. To look at a map, it seems the entire state is ablaze. Lightening has been the cause of most of the fires. There have been loss of homes and loss of life. Three fire fighters died last week while fighting the blaze on the other side of the pass from us.
Twenty-five miles from us in two towns over, a lightening fire gained strength and devoured timber. It jumped the river and the road, causing the evacuation of one town and part of another. My brother is working on the fire and sent me photos. I’ve never seen anything like it in person.
Smoke blanketed our homestead. We sit in a gorgeous little valley at the foot of a mountain and the Cascade mountain range swirls around us. Thick smoke blocked the mountains completely from view. Driving home from church visibility was so bad we couldn’t even see the next turn, it was like driving in the worst fog you’ve ever seen, except it was lung stinging smoke.
Thankfully, after two days, the wind shifted and cleaned out most of the smoke.
But another fire in the town I work sparked up.
I realized, I needed to have some type of things prepared in the order of an evacuation.
You’d have thought I would have realized this a month ago when my truck broke down in the middle of the city and I was stranded for an hour waiting for the tow truck.
Alas, sometimes it takes a bit longer to grasp certain things. Please tell me I’m not alone in this.
If you’re a typical American, then you spend quite a bit of time in your rig. I commute 18 miles one way to work and over 30 miles to get to the nearest large town and shopping areas. The chances of being in your vehicle when an emergency strikes is pretty high.
8 Items You Need in Your Car
1. First things first, in an emergency you probably won’t be able to stop and get fuel. If a fire is licking at your heels, you won’t have time. If the power is out, you won’t be able to operate the pumps and get gas. So always keep a ½ tank of gas/diesel in your rig. You’ll never run out of fuel this way and if you have to leave in the middle of the night (we don’t have 24 hour gas stations up where we live) you won’t be left stranded.
2. Shelter is your next concern. If you’re stranded on the side of the road, you need to keep warm if it’s cold out, or shaded if it’s hot. A blanket will provide both. Your best bet is wool. Wool will still keep you warm even if it’s pouring down rain. It might be itchy, but it’s is superior for warmth. You can wrap up in it to keep your body heat from being conducted into the ground, or string it up for shade if it’s hot.
Check a military surplus store for wool blankets. We have a pawn shop and military surplus in the town I work at and I was able to purchase one there for the trunk of my car. I purchased mine for $20 as I like to shop local when I can, but if you don't have a military surplus, this wool blanket from Amazon comes in at $18. Remember, you shouldn't every dry wool products in the dryer, line dry for best results.
A small tarp is also a good idea for shelter or an all weather blanket that has some long lasting ability to it, like this Space All Weather Blanket.
3. Water. You should keep some bottled water in your trunk. Be sure to rotate it out and check it during the winter if it’s freezing solid. I always fill my stainless steel water bottle and take it with me when I leave the house, but you’ll want extra reserves in your trunk or the back seat of your truck (if you don’t have a canopy).
After a water bottle, or with it, you should have a water filtering system. This way, if you have to leave your vehicle or run out of water before help comes, you have a way to safely drink from a nearby water source. Where I live, our roads follow the river and there are lots of creeks and smaller bodies of water near the road. I personally own a Lifestraw. It's light weight enough it won't weigh you down, which is important in an on foot situation, and comes as a stand alone filter or in a water bottle. The water bottle is good if you need to walk away from the water source.
4. Food. Water is most important, but if you get stranded with kids, you know how important it is to have something for them to eat if they’re hungry. Even big kids… aka adults. I recommend some dried fruit and nuts. They're light weight and won't go rancid quickly. Just like anything, you're going to want to rotate the food and water out every so often. (More on that to come soon) Even though I love chocolate, especially Theo brand chocolate, pure chocolate melts. You don't want something that's going to melt all over your car… at least, I don't.
Sealed energy bars are another great option for on the go. You see a lot of people recommend candy bars, but I'd rather have something that will give my body fuel, not just a sugar rush and then crash. But make sure you have some type of food source in your vehicle.
5. Walking shoes. When I go to work at the pharmacy, I’m not wearing tennis shoes or hiking boots. You’re probably not either, depending upon your job. But if I get stuck alongside the road on the way home from work, I’m going to need some footwear that will let me cover some terrain. Keep an extra pair of walking or hiking shoes/boots in your vehicle with a pair of wool/hiking socks.
6. Fire starter. You need a way to stay warm, especially in cooler climates. Hypothermia occurs most often between 30 and 50 degrees, obviously it will happen faster if you're below freezing, but many people underestimate the range between 30 and 50 degrees Farenheit. Because there are different options to starting fires, how to do it and some safety measures, check out how to start a fire without matches or a lighter here.
7. Light source. When it gets dark you're going to want light. It can also help you signal for help and allow rescue workers to find you easier. A flashlight is always a good option, but be sure and pack extra batteries with it. Most times, you can find little LED flashlights that will hook right onto your key chain. Never a bad idea to have more than one light source.
Another option that is also water proof and extremely small, portable, but puts off a decent amount of light are these solar powered bag lights. We use ours camping and in case of power outages, plus no need for back up batteries, and ours is going on two years. They're really awesome, waterproof and they'll float on water! Did I mention they put off 16 hours of light from one charge? LumiAid Solar Light
8. Pocket knife. A knife can come in handy in so many different ways. It's small, light weight, and something you should definitely have in your car. This Swiss army knife fits on a key chain and has multiple tools, plus, it comes in different colors, which I know doesn't matter from a preparedness standpoint, but I'm just girly enough to want to pick my own color.
Now, you'll probably want a slightly bigger blade, but something that still folds up and is light enough to carry. This one is sturdy, with a decent blade, and is under $10–> Tac Force Folding Knife
These are what I consider the most basic of basic items to carry at all times in your car.
[…] An emergency car kit is essential, not only in the event you are stranded, but also in case of evacuation. More preps already in the car can help you stay healthy and comfortable longer. A road assistance kit is part of it. Imperfectly Happy shows you how to make your own emergency car kit and Melissa K. Norris shows you 8 items to always have in your car. […]
All the things you mentioned are good, but I also carry a small bowl for watering pets. Being stranded in the heat is just as stressful on dogs as it is for humans.
I love your podcast!! Thank you for all your time and effort you put in.
I just found you and ordered your book about cooking from scratch, I hope that there are not to many things that use sugar and flour, these are two things I can no longer have, as they cause my sugars to go way to high. I do have a question that I would like explained, — what is the difference between “cold water-bath” and plain “water bath canning.” My Mother canned every year enough for a family of eight kids, she ordered 100 chicks every spring and only kept about a dozen for laying — the rest we had for Sunday dinners. I was born in “49 and have lived on a farm most all my life, only place to raise kids also. they learned so much about real life and have turned out great. Can’t say the same for today’s grand-kids! Thanks Bill Gates!!!!! lolololololol You have a great day and I’ll be in touch, God bless you and your’s. Kathy
Katherine,
There is some baking recipes with flour and sugar, but not all. Water bath is simply putting the jars in boiling water without a pressure canner, a cold water bath wouldn’t can anything. You also start your processing time from the moment the water is at a rolling boil, so it wouldn’t make sense in those regards either. Sorry I couldn’t help on that part.
Good article. I would only add, adjust as per common sense. I spent two decades in Emergency Services and eventually left due to the stupidity of the general populace. An example of this was last month a TV interview of stranded motorists on a snow bound KY Interstate. She was whining that the National Guard had not come back with the promised food, water, blankets, and insulin for her dad! People need to take responsibility for their actions and not depend solely on the good will of others!
One comment on the 1/2 gal of gas; make sure it will actually work. I’ve had a few times where I ran out of gas, had a 1 gal can with me so bought 1 gal of gas, and it wasn’t enough for the car to start.
Very good start for the first day! Looking forward to the rest of the Challenge.
Thanks, Greg, happy to have you on the challenge with us!
A First Aid Kit, a Fire Extinguisher, Cell Phone Charger that plugs into car port somewhere, Pepper Spray or a Shock Stick for protection, a Roll up plastic rain coat or umbrella, raisins, biltong (dried meat), and toilet rolls are some things I can think of.
Thank you for a great blog
Frances from Sunny South Africa
Hello, Frances!
Pepper spray is a good idea and I love your work for what we call jerky!
Oh, how I wish it were that easy for me to carry all these things in my car!! I worry about this all the time!
I am a rural mail carrier, who has to use my own vehicle to deliver mail in. I can’t carry much because I require ALL space for the mail and packages! There is nowhere to store it at work, either, besides, the point is to have it in your car when there is an emergency, and since I am out of the office for about 5 hours….well, again, it is suppose to be in your vehicle all the time!
I do have a fairly great medical bag, and I can squeeze in a few of these things there, but really, no blankets or anything larger than a box of bandages is going to make it space-wise. I just pray that until I am given a postal vehicle, nothing bad happens!
Great article!
Any space under the seat?
I’d like to add a take down survival rifle to the list. There are many on the market Ruger and Henry are most popular in 22 Long Rifle or magnum. Given the fire incident mentioned there could be a lot of danger from scared animals.
Hi I forgot to mention walking poles to make a trip to safety easier and to defend ones self from unwanted attention from man or beast. I also have a whistle on my key chain. Am enjoying this course so much. Thank you!
Thanks Melissa i really enjoyed it.
I am way too delinquent in getting my car kit together for my husband and I’s cars. We are going on a short trip to PA in a couple of weeks, so that will be my goal date to get at least one kit together.
We have Lifestraws, but usually we carry them on us (and yes I am guilty of leaving it at home). Does anyone know if they are ok to store in a car with extreme temp changes. I live in New England and we are having some almost 100F days right now and before we know it the temps will go way below freezing. I am wondering if that would do anything to the Lifestraws capabilties.
I would add hand/toe warmers to my kit too. If not for a winter emergency, for my stepson’s hockey games!
Thank you Melissa! I love your blog and all of the time and thoughtfulness you put into your special series like this one and your Handmade Christmas series. God bless!
Thanks, Marcie! I’m working on the Handmade Christmas series for this year. 🙂
I think the hand/toe warmers are a great idea.
I don’t believe the temps would affect the Lifestraw, it seems to be made of pretty durable plastic, but bringing it during the extreme weather if you could remember might be good idea.
If you have a pet(s) that rides in the car with you, it would probably be a good idea to also carry water and food (and dish) for them, plus any meds your pet might need
Hi Melissa,
Thank you soooo much for all you do. I’ve been out of work for the last 8 months and things on your website (podcasts) have really helped me.
Just something to add to car list. A jar of peanut butter and a box of crackers (the processed kind that will last till Jesus comes back! LOL) It’s got protein and carbs to keep ya going!!
Sincerely,
Beth-Ann Fielding
PS: I interview at a really good job last week, if it’s GOD’s will I’ll get it. Please say a prayer when you have time.
Prayers for God’s direction and guidance for you, Beth-Ann!
Thank you for reminding me of the items removed from my vehicle when I had to haul some large items. I must get my kit back into my vehicle.
One more item you might consider adding to this list is a folding shovel. If your stranded or something else is happening the shovel would come in handy to assist in knocking down a small fire or digging a potty or fire pit.
I have made sure I have one (minus my minivan right now) in every vehicle that leaves our house.
You never know when you will need one.
I agree with the things Peggy suggested. I would also add a Bible and a deck of cards. The old jokes goes that if you play solitaire in no time someone will be there to tell you your next move. I also keep a day’s supply of my meds in a little cylinder on my key chain.
I was pleased to find that I had most of the items you mentioned! One other thing I have read about that I plan on getting is a can or 2 of Magic Tank (it’s a non-flammable emergency fuel that can be safely stored in the trunk of your car)
I am a CERT Community Emergency Response Team member who must carry a few more items in the car at all times just in case I run up on the unexpected. Things like: binoculars, medical pack with gloves, CPR breathing device. Personally I carry a small shovel, kitty litter, small amount of fluids for the car (windsheld,oil,WD40)empty 2 gallon gas can, duct tape, transmitter/windup radio, phone charger, extra jacket, mittens, winter hat, warm gloves, hand and seat warmers, gum, hard candy, peanut butter crackers, water, energy snacks.
Looking forward to your daily postings and comments from your followers. Thank You.
I have made canned heaters for our vehicles, These are the instructions on how to and I also added a can stabilizer, can find at same place you pick up the quart paint can. http://theparsimoniousprincess.blogspot.com/2011/02/canned-heat-how-to-make-emergency.html Hand and body warmers would be a good also.
Thank you Melissa
Wow, I’m sad to say that I only have 1 of the 8 things on your list. Gas… I fill up every time I go to town. I like you don’t leave home without my water bottle, and there has been more than one occasion where I’ve run out of water while doing my errands… I hate that.
I’d also include jumper cables and a spare tire to that list… and maybe a basic mechanic set….
Guess I should go shopping, although I do have a blanket at home that I could put in the car…
Thanks for the great post, looking forward to reading the rest of this months posts.
Great pointers, Melissa. I always carry a small first aid kit, several blankets (although mine are lightweight plushy throws, so probably not the warmest things), and a couple flashlights. I think I also have a swiss army-type knife, but will need to check. Great advice on having something to start a fire. And walking shoes – oh yes! I often have heels on to go to work and those would be terrible and I couldn’t walk very far if the car broke down and I had to hoof it. The only thing I think is difficult is keeping a stash of water in the car, now that they say that keeping plastic water bottles in the car where they get warm is dangerous for your health.
Laura,
I agree on the plastic, but in an emergency, having that water is going to be more important than if something seeps in from the plastic during storage. I believe the case you’re referring to is people leaving their every day water in the car and drinking from plastic water bottles on a regular basis. Which is why we use stainless steel for every day water, but keep a few plastic as emergency backup. Hope that helps. 🙂
I couldn’t find a printer friendly version. Am I missing something?
Robin,
You can just copy and paste text into a word document. I don’t have a way to make my website printer friendly that I’m aware of.
Thanks, Alesia,
A first aid kit is definitely a great idea and I’m always a lover of books. Thanks for sharing.
Flares are great, and one I”ll be bringing up a bit later in the series, Melanie. We’ve been first responders, too, thankfully my husband is an EMT (which means he handles it awesome, I’m the prayer partner), but having those supplies definitely helps.
Great article this morning. Looking forward to the rest of the month! I also carry hand sanitizer, lightweight towel, basic first aid kit, a small book and emergency blanket. I will be getting a wool blanket now! The small book is to occupy me just in case you get stuck on the road/interstate (which I have had happen multiple times going back and forth to work) waiting, waiting, waiting. 🙂
Love this..thank you Melissa.
I began carrying a medical kit. We have driven up on so many accidents that we have been first responders to. And added flares to that bag.