Step 7 – Prepare Your Car
We all risk getting stranded in our car from …
- Snow storms
- Flooding
- Car failure
- Having an accident in a secluded area
- Getting lost in a secluded area
- Earthquakes
You hope that you will be home when the next emergency hits, but that’s not always the case. There’s a good chance you will be on the road. That’s why it is very important to always have some emergency supplies in the car.
Remember the family who took a wrong turn in Oregon and ended up stranded on a remote road during a snow storm? Without food and water, the husband went searching for help but died in the process. Rescue crews were looking for the family. If they could have survived in their car, they would have had a much better chance of surviving this situation.
And people living in Earthquake country get no warnings! I lived through the Loma Prieta earthquake. It hit during rush hour and there were lots of people stranded on the road. Remember the pictures of the Bay Bridge and Cypress freeway collapse? That left people scrambling to take different routes home. It took some people most of the night to get home, and many had to abandon their cars.
Why you need a Bug-Out-Bin AND a Car Bag:
You’re going to notice that some items in the Car Bag are the same as those in the Bug-Out-Bin. This is important because your family members may be separated in an emergency (e.g. you and your spouse/partner could be at work while your kids are at home). Everyone will need to have access to the basic supplies until you are all reunited. And although there is some duplication, you can never have too much food and water.
BUT … if having duplicates is financially difficult, then just focus on food and water. Those are the most important items to have. If you can, add reflective blankets and hand warmers. That will give you the ability to stay hydrated, warm and not hungry! I also recommend throwing in a plastic bag and roll of toilet paper … for obvious reasons.
ACTION 1: Get or reuse a small backpack
It’s really not hard to create a survival bag for the car and it doesn’t take up that much space. I personally use a small rolling backpack so that I could easily roll it behind me if I had to walk home after an earthquake. The bag takes up little room but contains essentials for survival: food, water, a small first aid kit, radio, flashlight, whistle, etc.
I’m not a fan of the red backpacks, because I feel like they would make me a target for an attack. There’s a good chance I might have to walk to safety after an earthquake. A red backpack would tell everyone that I’m carrying supplies. While I may have packed enough supplies for my family, I definitely don’t have enough for everyone else. I don’t want to set myself up for a theft, so I like to keep the bag low key. A rolling backpack looks like I’m just bringing my kid’s backpack along.
ACTION 2: Print out Car Bag List
Print out the Car Bag List and pack the items you already own
STOP! Do NOT Panic!
Like the Bug Out Bin … you don’t need to get these things all at once! This is just your roadmap for what to collect. The items highlighted in YELLOW have the highest priority. Focus on the most important items and then slowly work through the list.
ACTION 3: Use the Shopping List
Use the Disaster Kit Planner Shopping List to purchase the Car Bag items that you don’t own. The Shopping List Page shows you which items to purchase at the grocery store, general store and online.
But first figure out what you already own!!
ACTION 4: Pack portable food and water
You could be on the road for awhile. Make sure you have some water. I have 8 of the Blue Cans in the car (so 24 oz for each person). They have a 50 year shelf life, even in hot conditions! I place my cans in a thermal lunch bag. Then I put it deep in my backpack. The bag stays protected even on the warmest days.
You also want some of the 3600 Calorie bars in the car because they can be packed and left until you need them. You will never go hungry if you are stranded on the road for hours! These bars can be packed away for 5 years and they can withstand temperatures between 20-130 °F. Again, I place my Datrex bars in another thermal lunch bag. Then I put the bag deep in my backpack.
Portable Water for the car and Bug Out Bin ...
You could be on the road for awhile. Make sure you have water! I have 12 of the Blue Cans which gives me 18 cups of water. That gives each person 4.5 cups of water. I also keep a gallon of water by my Bug Out Bin as a reminder to grab as much water as I can.
| Product | Description/Links | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Case of 24 Blue Cans of Water (50 year shelf life) 16 in BOB 4 in each car ON A BUDGET: Buy these with friends and split the cost. | FEMA Basic Kit Item-Food & Water These cans are not cheap but they last 50 years!!! They get great reviews on taste, even when left in the heat. And each can holds 12 ounces (or 1.5 cups). I personally chose this option because I saw it as a one time investment. I then put the cans in the cars and in our Bug Out Bins. I love that I don't have to ever worry about rotating them! |
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| Datrex Water Pouches (125 ml or 1/2 cup each) (5 year shelf life) pack 6 for each family member and 6 for each pet (e.g. 24 for family of 4) get a case of these and pack some in car backpack | FEMA Basic Kit Item-Food & Water These water pouches are another option for portable water. They are compact and have 5 year shelf life (even in warm conditions). Each pouch containes 125 ml of water (or about 1/2 cup). They pack well and are inexpensive to purchase. The biggest issue I have with the water pouches is that you can't put them down. They also only last 5 years and they have some poor reviews on taste. |
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| Insulated Bag for 3600 Bars and Water | You will want to store the 3600 Calorie Bars and portable water in insulated bags if you plan to put them in the car. These bags will help protect its contents against high temperatures. |
High Calorie Food Bars to pack in cars and Bug Out Bin ...
3600 Calorie Food Bars provide enough food to sustain an individual for THREE DAYS! They are not thirst-provoking and they have a 5 year shelf life. As you saw from my menus, I use them as snack food in situations that don't require evacuation. So they are a key part of our survival kit. NOTE: These bars all taste differently. I purchased all three and had my family taste test them. We all preferred Datrex, but your family may prefer a different brand. It pays to try them out before you buy a supply for your BOB, car and food plan. High Calorie Food Bar options:
| Product | Description/Links | Notes |
|---|---|---|
  | Datrex 3600 Calorie Food Bar 2 for 1 Week Meal Plan 2 for Bug Out Bag 2 for car | FEMA Basic Kit Item An earthquake, bad winter storm or road accident can bring traffic to a complete standstill for HOURS! These 3600 Calorie food bars will make sure you don’t go hungry. They be stored in the car for up to 5 years. ALSO Purchase as snacks for meal plan |
| Insulated Bag for 3600 Bars and Water | You will want to store the 3600 Calorie Bars and portable water in insulated bags if you plan to put them in the car. These bags will help protect its contents against high temperatures. | |
| SOS 3600 Calorie Food Bar | Purchase as snacks for meal plan, food for car and food for Bug Out Bin. | |
| ER Emergency Ration 3600 Calorie Bar | Purchase as snacks for meal plan, food for car and food for Bug Out Bin. |
ACTION 5: Pack things to keep you warm
After food and water, the next most important item is something to keep you warm. This is especially true if you live in a cold part of the country. Here are some great items to have packed in the car.
Safety Items - protection against the elements ...
These products will help keep you warm and dry. They are particularly good for your Car Bag.
| Product | Description/Links | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reflective Thermal Blanket | These are great for the car! I keep these and the HotHand warmers in case we get stranded in the winter. I keep 4 in each car and put the other 2 in the Bug Out bin. ** These blankets are part of a Pet First Aid Kit so be sure to get one for your pet. ** |
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| Rain ponchos with hood for each family member | Staying dry is key to staying warm. I keep these inexpensive ponchos in the car at all times. | |
| HotHands 18 hr Warmers (instant heat pack) | These can be combined with the mylar blankets to provide warmth in a car. | |
| Wool Blankets | I bought two wool, military-like blankets for $20 and thought we’d never use them. As it turns out, they have been an awesome addition to the car! They are super warm and spread long enough to cover two people in each row of the car. We have used them when sitting outdoors at restaurants and as impromptu beach blankets. And because they are so thin, they fold up easily. I also have the mylar blankets for an extreme situation. But the wool blankets are great for regular use. |
Here are some ADDITIONAL tips for the Car Bag:
- An old pair of sneakers and some socks: I live in flip flops, so there is a very good chance that I’ll be driving in flip flops when the next disaster hits. Having a pair of sneakers and socks in the car allows me to walk longer distances without my feet hurting. And these sneakers have saved me many times when the weather has turned and I needed warmer shoes. Make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes in your car.
- Kid’s Shoes: The problem with putting an extra pair of kids shoes in the car is that they grow out of them in about 5 minutes. When my kids were small, I simply made sure we took sneakers with us if we were traveling far. This really wasn’t hard to do since kids wear sneakers most of the time anyway!
- Maps: If you’re phone dies, you may have to navigate the old-school way. Keep a set of local and state maps in your glove compartment box or in the Car Bag.
