Ideally, you’ll get fast help in a roadside emergency, but don’t gamble your life on it. During a natural disaster or terrorist attack—even an accident in a remote area out of cell phone range—help could take hours or days to arrive. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, suggests stocking your vehicle with a survival kit that contains everything you need to survive at least three days on your own.
Keep the Basics in the Car
Keep a basic survival kit in your vehicle at all times. Make sure it has a first aid kit, road flares, a flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables, food and water. Choose food that won’t spoil. Don't pack foods that make you thirsty. Include enough water for each person to have one gallon per day. FEMA advises that unopened, commercially bottled water is the safest and has the longest storage life.
Make sure you have a functional spare tire, lug wrench and jack. "Consumer Reports" suggests that you also carry tire sealant, extra fuses and a small tool kit with wrenches, pliers and a multi-tip screwdriver. If it’s legal in your area, consider adding pepper spray or a knife.
Keep a car charger in your vehicle for your cell phone. Include a sleeping bag or blankets in case you’re stranded overnight and hygiene items like toilet paper and moist wipes. Add a pen, paper and some cash in small bills and change. Store portable items in a backpack or duffle bag, something you can carry easily if you have to leave the car.
Treat Short Jaunts Like Long Journeys
If you wouldn’t leave an item behind on a long road trip, don’t leave it when you drive across town. In a true disaster, being just half an hour from home might not make a difference. You can’t leave all your essentials in the car at all times, but don’t drive away without them. Take your cell phone, prescription medications and glasses or contacts. Make sure you have your wallet, identification, insurance cards and money. If you’re wearing heels, take a pair of walking shoes in case you end up on foot.
Add Seasonal Supplies
Add seasonal supplies to your automobile survival kit as soon as the weather starts to change. In the summer, add reflective sunshades for your front and rear windshields. Include sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat. You need twice the normal amount of water in extremely hot weather, according to FEMA, so double your supply.
In the winter, add a heavy coat, scarf, gloves and boots to your survival kit. Include extra clothing in case you get wet and some extra blankets. Your drinking water may freeze, so pack candle stubs, waterproof matches and a 3-pound coffee can for melting water or snow, suggests Northwestern Health Sciences University. You can also use the coffee can to shovel snow. Make sure you have a tow rope or chain, windshield scraper and a bag of cat litter. If you get stuck in ice, you can use the cat litter for traction.
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