Battery-operated or crank radio
Chemical toilet kit
Good walking shoes

I like these backpack kits because they would be easy to carry if you had to walk out of the affected area.

Here is a link that might be useful: kit

This post was edited by Fun2BHere on Sun, Nov 23, 14 at 12:00

how about an all in one crank light,radio and phone charger ?

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-WR-112-Emergency-Flashlight/dp/B00KSFDE6Y/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1416761855&sr=1-2&keywords=crank+radio

Lighter or matches.

Roll of toilet paper. Book of crossword puzzles with pencils. Some of those packets with the hand wipes in them.

This post was edited by Tibbrix on Sun, Nov 23, 14 at 12:34

Also include a first aid kit.

The problem is that these boxes are usually kept in the trunk or the back of the car. Lifehammers do you little good if they are in the trunk and you can't get out of the car to get them.

When we travel in the winter our immediate winter pack is kept behind the console or the front seats. Snow boots for the driver (easier for a driver to reach behind the passenger seat than his own seat), blankets, waterproof matches, small first aid pack, flashlights with extra batteries, collapsible shovel.

Other things can be kept in the back of the car.

We live in earthquake country. I don't have the room to store the list of stuff that we are "supposed" to have. Most people don't - the emergency people have made it too onerous, as in, if you can't have it all there is no point in doing it at all.

If you travel in winter, a candle and lighter for the car glove box. I've read that if you are caught /stuck/buried in avalanche (I live in mountain pass country) a lit candle in the car can keep you from freezing. Maybe some of those hand and/or boot warmers.

Here is a link that might be useful: hand warmers

Great ideas so far! blfenton, I agree that it needs to be accessible. That is why I mentioned the lifehammer needs to be mounted not in the box. I can folder down my back seat easily and reach everything in my trunk. Not every vehicle has that feature and I bet not everyone knows if their vehicle does or not. This may be another one under KNOWLEDGE. Know your vehicle. Learn all the capabilities and what all the buttons do. Read your owners manual, etc. Know how to get to your car jack and spare tire if you have one.

Jumper cables have saved me a few times and have enabled me to help others as well. As a single woman, that was my first emergency purchase and it's the only one I've used regularly over the last 35 yrs.

You know those rain gear jackets and pants
that don't keep you warm but keep you dry ??
They roll-up into a tiny pouch .
Great if you get stuck changing a tire...
Not only will they keep you dry but also keep road side dirt off
your new xmas sweater :)

Folding bicycle.

My DD, an ER nurse, gave DH an emergency backpack last year. The hospital sold them as a fund-raiser. Some of the things included were: 3 light sticks, a pair of heavy-duty scissors, emergency poncho, emergency blanket (space blanket), rope, an empty gallon water bottle (should be filled of course), flashlight and an led headlamp, crowbar, heavy duty gloves, protective glasses, first-aid kid. I added a whistle (works better than yelling for help). A lot of this might be geared to our area which is prone to tornados, where people could be trapped in a damaged house. But could apply to a stranded vehicle or other situations as well. Oh, and how could I forget! Duct tape!

Oh yes, a knife. My mom (a backwoods hiker and outdoor enthusiast) gave me a sharp little knife in a sheath years ago. I've used it so often for everything from opening packages tied tightly with string to cutting wild flowers on the roadside (not certifiable emergencies, but seemed important at the time).

Amazon has a 6-pack of mylar blankets for around $7-8. They will fit into a glove box. In fact, I will be ordering some soon. For flashlights, I prefer the crank ones. Extra batteries are great , but sometimes they are hard to find in the dark. Things like glow-sticks are great too.

In the car I would also include something like Fix-A-Flat and an emergency metal shovel. The shovel could work to help in snow or mud.

For longer term, power outages, etc, I think a solar charger would be great. I would need it to charge the phones and probably a Kindle.

A second car with towing cables.

Yuk-yuk.

Actually, along that same vein, a tow chain is not a bad idea. Out here where many people have trucks and many roads are dirt, people are kind enough to stop and ask if you need help, if you have a chain. We started keeping the chain the car instead of our truck because of that.

Ready.gov which is part of FEMA has a list for home and car.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ready.gov

Google "car coffee can emergency kit" for a lot of ideas. If you use a metal coffee can, you can add a candle and matches--you can then burn the candle in the coffee can and it will radiate warmth.

A standard coffee can will hold a lot of emergency supplies. I made these for everyone in my family one year and they all loved them.

The coffee can keeps everything in one place and doesn't take up a lot of room.

Did you know there are free police scanner apps you can download on your iPhones and Androids, maybe other smart phones as well. Years ago I had a police and fire scanner that I would listen to when the weather was really bad. You could always tell which roads to avoid by the number of accidents being called in. Then the police departments all went to digital scanners and they were pretty expensive so I didn't buy one. You can listen all over the country now without knowing the local codes or frequency numbers using the apps.

Has anybody here actually tested out one of those Lifehammers? To me, they look so small that you'd really need to have some power behind you to smash a car window enough to do you any good, as well as have the right angle, but maybe they're a lot heavier than I'm thinking?

Also, concerning having them in a reachable place, this idea came to me: Most cars have the side pocket on the car doors, so I would probably try to tape a piece of sticky velcro on the "inside wall" of thedriver's-side car pocket and another wrapped around the hammer so that they'll cling together and not roll around.

I've frequently thought of getting one (kind of like a little "insurance" -- when you have what you need, the odds of actually having to use it seem to be reduced -- the order of the world!), so I might check today if Target or another store has them to get a "feel" for them (but odds are I'll also feel a need to compare them on the Internet -- for some reason, I'm always compelled to read about 100 reviews before I purchase things nowadays!)

A Glock.

I saw a video of the keychain version of the lifehammer and it worked easily. The point of them is you need a small hit point. Another idea is to take off a head rest and use that. Put on gloves and glasses if you can. I used to have a life hammer mounted in a car but I think it went with the car.

The lighter or matches are a great idea. I would not think of that.

Coffee can could be used for many things.

I just ordered lifehammers, and mylar blankets, and battery run hazard lights.

Lucille, Your glock should be on your person at all times.

'filling bathtubs and flushing toilets'. Forget that much water. You may not get a bath (or even wash) for days or a week, Pee outside, get a bucket, and get used to the smell. Friends once had a frozen water line. No major emergency, but an inconvenience for 3-4 days. Her adult daughter & hubby emptied the valuable water heater, to wash their hair. Idiots.

I would add some cash. A $20, a few $1, and quarters. Sometimes you may need some money for gas in a near-emergency, or to buy food at a vending machine if you need to pull off the road at a rest area.

Wow, these are all great suggestions. I have water in my car but it is in the trunk. When I purchase a new vehicle I will be buying an SUV so I can reach the things in the back without leaving the vehicle.

Someone above mentioned a head lamp. That is a wonderful item to have. There are also lamps that clip onto the brim of a billed cap. In an emergency you may need both hands and the head lamps free you from not having to hold a flashlight. The batteries that are in those items are small lithium coin cells. You can keep a package of five in very little space.

Forboys, the radio you linked is awesome. I am adding that to my list. I keep blankets in my trunk, but again not easily accessible. The blankets come in handy when I find an antique or anything that I want to transport. I have some dog food in cans, extra leashes, paper towels, bottled water, cash, an emergency car kit. I am such a knot head, I keep my emergency kit in the trunk. Not smart! That will be remedied.

Debra, thank you for posting this. Winter is setting in early this year and I want to be more prepared this year than last.

Cash (small bills and quarters), paper towels. Excellent!

Moist hand wipes.

Oldfixer you may not be able to go outside in a blizzard to pee. I agree about limiting bathing but being able to somewhat flush the toilet would be helpful.

This post was edited by debrak2008 on Tue, Nov 25, 14 at 12:08

Jumper cables!

blankets and water are the two most valuable things in one's car out here in the desert. Long stretches of nothing, and gets cold at night.

A few years back we had a freeze which not only knocked out electricity, but froze all the water pipes, so no water for days. Fortunately, I had about 1/2 hour advance notice. Filling all the receptacles and bathtub saved me. I had more water than other people, and was able to be somewhat hygienic.

What about one of those fancy car charger devices? Anybody have experience with those?

voilet.west, I was with someone once when they had to use one of those car chargers. It takes a little while but it worked!

my AAA guy just used one (oops!). . . took about 3 minutes

My car emergency kit is more for rescuing others than survival for myself, so it's loaded with fis

The "life hammer" works beautifully because of the weight and shape of the tip, and the small size makes it easy to store in the car, although a rock or the handle of a jack or wrench works well for the rescuer who has more options.

TIPS:
Make it climate specific.
Get dual purpose things - space blankets that are bright-colored/silver can be used for flagging down traffic and flashing signals as well as keeping warm.
Get crank-driven LED flashlights and radios.

I ended up purchasing flashlights, flash alert lights, survival blankets, and life hammers. After reading all the great ideas I realize there is so much everyone should have. I don't know who has what so I think I may make a list of the suggestions and give it along with the items. I decided not to actually use a box. As said the life hammer needs to be very accessible. This way everyone can organize there vehicle as they need to.

Thank you all for the great suggestions!

I read a lot of the comments, but did not notice the hand warmer packets that get activated when squeezed.