Awwww....I hope your Dad knew how impressed you were with his preparation.

I have a few things, but this is a good reminder to get some things together. We were stuck on the road 1.5 hours recently when a bad accident blocked the road. Didn't really need anything but I was glad I didn't have any need for the restroom!

Thanks.

I'll bet that your dad was a Boy Scout: "Be Prepared"

Jim

I have a fire extinguisher, hazard triangles, a kit that connects to the aux plug that has a flashlight, inflator and another triangle that live in my trunk.

When I'm getting ready to leave the house and I'm going farther than errands, I pack several bottles of water (generally 6; half would be frozen in summer), some trail mix and Larabars and a good flashlight with extra batteries. Depending on the weather, I'll have kitty litter and some extra blankets. Depending on how old my vehicle is, an extra bottle of pre-mixed antifreeze goes along as well. A pair of old panty hose works as a substitute belt if you have a belt break (not belt for pants!!).

I've never been stuck for any period of time but used to drive 2 hours each way to work. I didn't want to have any issues with breaking down.

I just carry blankets, a fold out chair and water bottles, some times keep cliff bars but I usually eat them. I live in Southern California, and we have several accident delays, but I would not need more than what I carry, unless I ventured up into the snow.

I think you should add a head lamp~~I am all into those this year, I am giving one to each of my kids~~I bought DH and I each one for when we hotel, in case we had to evacuate by taking the stairs. I could manage easier with the head lamp than holding the flashlite I used to take.

Well we don't usually travel in bad weather but when we went North to Ohio recently,we took an extra blanket for 2 of us and plenty of water and some snacks and just prayed that we had no bad weather. Of course heavy coat, hats, gloves,scarves. Scrapers for the windshield. Kept plenty of gas in the car too.
I also think your dad was a scout and knew to be well prepared for any emergency. I'm glad it has rubbed off on you too. You just never know and if it doesn't help you than maybe someone else.
Mary

Rhizo, I think my DH could just about match your father in organization and preparedness :) Just about everything you mentioned in our truck, along with chain, rope, water, industrial first aid kit, fire extinguisher, aspirin, moist hand wipes, towels, extra sunglasses, compass....couldn't begin to list it all. I just know if we are using the truck and out picking berries or something, or at the beach and I get cold and wet, he will have whatever I want in the truck, including toilet paper.

I flew to Alaska with my brother one year, granted, a rented car when we got there but we were like two corks afloat in the ocean without him to keep us organized ;)

In my car, flashlight, emergency blanket, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, plastic tarp still in the package, towels. I'm not sure what else, drive an SUV and I'm not the one who cleans it.

He's always carried clean towels, I'm not sure how that got started but I can't tell you how many times we've used or loaned them in a variety of circumstances.

Along with the above mentioned sensible items everyone should have on board their vehicles, a few extras go with us. A baggie full of tea lights and matches and a tin can with holes punched in the sides to put the lit candles in...provides both heat and light and is a great hand warmer when you are stuck in the winter. Crossword puzzle books coloring books and crayons and a chapter book for the kids that you can read to them, or get them to read to you, will help to pass the time. A few of the emergency ponchos, even in winter will keep the wet off so you do not have to sit in soaked jackets. I turned a small insulated cooler bag into an emergency kit that is by the back door and goes every time we leave the house for a road trip outside the city. Tin cups, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, sterno one burner stove very compact, hard candies, baggies, crackers n cheese, cup of soups, silverware, knife, cutting board, can opener,a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, few pairs of disposable rubber gloves etc etc etc . Only used twice in an emergency, once broken down in the middle of the night in January for six hours, many other times used for an impromptu picnic...and raided the bag for a few things, checked and replaced and when we get home. It sounds like a shipping trunk but I just measured it and it is 9 x 11 and 10 inches high and there is a lot more in it than I mentioned. Also a huge thermos of hot water, so what if you don't use it. Great for hot drinks.

I carry a snow brush, ice scraper, 2 old jackets and a disposable emergency blanket and a flashlight in my car. I also carry a very small flashlight in my purse. I don't leave town in bad weather. In good weather, I travel the interstate. As a 71 year old single woman, I would not travel out of the city limits in bad weather.

Some of you mentioned stuff that I forgot! Frankly, I'm surprised that he didn't pack a parachute!

He was a scout alright, and went on to lead groups of adults on wilderness trips in the Adirondacks! He was something else. One of my treasures from him is the fully packed tool box he stocked for me on a visit to SC after my divorce. :-)

Um. It's a Miata. I'm lucky I can fit the spare and some tools in it! But... I live where I work and could walk almost anywhere were the car to die for any reason. We have no weather bad enough I'd be stuck, except flood and no amount of stuff in the trunk would help. Ask me how I know... At least, that was the one thing flooded the most, my car. It would've all been wet. Yep, same car, the Miata. And still running! If I traveled a lot, I'd likely do something differently.

I used to have a lot of that stuff when I lived in more frigid climates and traveled alone or at night. Not so much now. But we do have some things.
One thing I always had were heavy thick tube socks because if there is ice especially but also snow if you put the socks on over your shoes you will not slip and slide the socks "grab" the ice and you can walk fairly normally. I also carried several pieces of roofing shingles they are very flat take up no room and if you get stuck in ice, snow, and sometimes mud putting them up under your tires gives a good traction to get you out.

About the bathroom issue I saw on some tv show about these small compact packages you can get to carry in your car they come for men and women, you unroll it and inside is this powder stuff that when you pee in it turns to a solid form so you can use it while in the car and not have to worry about spills. A lady actually used one while stuck in traffic fully clothed, luckily she was wearing a skirt lol.
I had to go google it and there are quite a few of them. I found they also use them for people that are bed bound much easier and better than the dreaded bed pan.

We were stuck in a solid line of traffic on our last trip home from Oklahoma and people were cutting across the ditches to get onto the service road because they were running out of gas or had to go to the bathroom. Luckily we did not have either problem but we had the RV so we could have run in there and used it if it were a crisis situation.

I found the product I saw mentioned.
TravelJohn-Disposable Urinal

looks like there are a lot of positive reviews.

Something I forgot in my previous post were tools to fix minor repairs on the car. Jumper cables. Tire repair kit, Cell phone and charger plus a GPS. We do try to stay on the interstates, Also a deck of cards. We did have to use the cards when the interstate was blocked for over an hour. Maps too.
Mary

I drive a mini cooper, and if I had all that stuff in my trunk, it would be full.

I do drive long distances, 8 hours one way to visit the grand kids and their parents... but never in bad weather.

Usually have my headlight, a blanket, warm coat and a weeks worth of warm clothes when traveling in the cold season. I also always have food, water, snacks (yep, snacks and food are not the same!). In fact, I started carrying gatorade and bottled water, for cyclists I might find along the road.

Moni

A convoy of us hit a blizzard which shut down I-94. Took 2 hr to get to an exit. Got lucky and found a motel, 13 of us spent the night in one room. All clear to head home in the morning. To answer your question, no I don't carry emergency gear.

I should know better. Dad taught me better than that, but I don't have anything in the car this winter. There is a tarp in the back, but I need to put at least a blanket in it. I almost always have water with me. At least I don't drive far in it. If we go very far, we take DH's truck, which has good tires on it and is much better on gas. There is a blanket in it.

One thing I've given the kids in their stockings has been those one use hand and foot warmer packets to put in their cars in the winter. At least those provide some warmth.

Guess I better get my blanket put in tomorrow!

Is there a life event, or a certain age, or something else that triggers the change in a person from the "just get up and go" mentality to being ultra (over) prepared for the worst of all possible eventualities?

I have a blanket in the car. I haven't taken it out yet from summer when we need it for sitting on at outdoor concerts.

Life event? Nope, just plain common sense. It's possible to slide off the road, get a flat tire, have the engine die, etc., at any time. Of course, if you do a fair amount of traveling, it's important to be prepared....stupid not to carry some of these items with you.

The hurricane box was imperative to me. When forced to evacuate (which I had to do three times), it takes a lot of pressure off if you know that you're carrying survival supplies with you, already packed.
All that's required is to throw some clothes in a suitcase, grab the valuables and most sentimentals, shove the animals in the car.....and hit the road.

I was in my twenties when I first placed a hurricane box in my trunk.....young, carefree, and always happy for an adventure at a moment's notice.

I have jumper cables, and a half bottle of windshield wiper fluid. Oh, and a coffee can full of polished cut rocks from my grandfather, that I just never took out when I moved here 2 1/2 years ago. Two aprons and a cloth grocery bag.

Yeah, I'm prepared all right...LoL

When our boys were teenagers we always had them carry coveralls, stocking hats, gloves and boots in their vehicles. I don't think they ever had to use them but were prepared if they did. We heard about a boy who got stuck and froze to death while walking for help. My husband and I usually carry extra clothing in our vehicles too. I just told him Sunday we needed to get them put in.

This post was edited by jkayd_il5 on Wed, Dec 18, 13 at 9:30

My AAA card, cell phone and charger, GPS and charger, jumper cables, an old phone book(that has been so handy!), a small fleece blanket, a roll of paper towels, brush and scraper. That's it. We don't have such severe weather and if we do, I stay home.

I have those Travel Johns and I don't think they are so easy for a woman to use. You still have to disrobe and stand up. Frankly, if you can do that, you can go behind a tree! I go to the beach for the day a lot in the spring and fall. There are no bathrooms available and the water is too cold to go in. Here's what works for me -- a beach blanket in a trash bag. Just open the bag and sit on it in the back seat of the car and let loose. Sorry if that offended anyone!

Fortunately, I don't live where weather is a factor....like freezing or snow. I just make sure the vehicle has a good spare, and the belts and hoses are in good shape and it has a recent oil change. I just got back from going to Mississippi to pick up a horse and the only extra item I took was a pillow.

I would just bet your dad was smart enough to not take any extra chances when the weather was bad. I am often floored by the people who are driving around in almost blizzard conditions....get off on the wrong road and get lost. Just heard a bout a family whose SUV fell off of a road and they were lost for a few days. All survived. We don't evacuate for hurricanes. More people die from the heat trapped in traffic than from hurricanes. Not saying you shouldn't evacuate if you live in a dangerous area, but I would never get caught in that kind of traffic. I would leave earlier or later or, in our case, if we leave, we don't go any farther than a few miles. We need to be able to get right back in to see about animals and boats. People panic and often those who don't need to evacuate do, and the traffic is tied up to the extent that it creeps along, and I think something like 100 people died in an evacuation about 7 or 8 years ago. Also lots of animals...horses, dogs, parrots. The hurricane didn't even hit here. Get out in that mess.... No. That is truly dangerous!

lol...in Washington state I carried cat litter or ashes from the fireplace...but here in "flat" mi, I have my brush/scraper and quick melt for my wipers...we're always so close to everything....

I carry a few of those things in my vehicles. I also carry a set of tools and a tire pump. Back in the inner tube days, I also included a tire patching kit. Thst got used on several occasions. In warm weather, I do not carry winter type clothing; In frigdid weather, I toss in a snowmobile suit for survival gear and there is an old blanket that the tool box stis on. It damps a lot of rattles and cound be pressed into service if need be. It used for kneeling pad.

When I buy new prescription glasses, I but a second pair maybe not as nice a frame as my primary set. The spare set goes into the glove box when I travel. That 'backup' pair have been used 3 times over the past 5 years. You can not predict how your primary pair can be damaged or lost, and that second pair can be a life saver.

I do have some flares that are rarely used. Around here, our police and first responders frown on flares and rather you'd used battery powered lights. Their concern is igniting spilled fuel or starting a roadside fire in dry weather. The other factor against flares is that some folks will leave the scene and leave behind a lighted flare since they have not learned how to extinguish a flare once lighted.

Jem, that's an excellent idea about the eyeglasses. I'd be pretty helpless without mine, that's for sure. I disposed of those flares many years ago....I would have been scared to light one!

I'm always happy to read of preparedness. I dont drive anymore and leave the car stuff with DS. He has a portable charger and I just got him another nicer one from QVC that inflates charges the battery etc. (for around 60) to have in his other car. The recent weather circumstance should make people aware of the necessity of taking care of things before some kind of disaster strikes. Thank you all for your posts

Those who live in Saskatchewan (central Canadian prairies), which I did for a time as a youth, figure that folks who don't carry a lot of that stuff in their cars in winter ...

... need to have their heads read.

Many people can attest to some of those things having been lifesavers when they got stranded, were caught, unable to continue, for whatever reason, including snow and blow, which is no fun at 40 below (40 below is the same, whether Fahr. or Centi.).

In this area, with things closer, fewer reasons for difficulty, and lacking the extreme temperatures, I carry less such stuff, but still have some ... and I need to add some more, as snow has started flying.

ole joyful ... who dislikes having teeth chatter, especially when sitting stranded in a car[

I will for sure put at least a blanket in my car. Last night, I had to sit for 45 min in freezing weather because my heater fan decided to go out on the one time we have freezing fog. I had no defroster.
I thought I could make it, but couldn't, so sat in a parking lot waiting for a ride. I did have a hat and a towel, but it sure wasn't enough.

I swear, this post must have jinxed me!

I carry 5 hour energy shots in my car. You never know when you will need them. I need to make up a preparedness box for Tony & Molly;s cars since they work. We live on top of a hill that couldn't be driven up in case of an ice storm or snow, so a good pair of boots, heavy jackets and a rain poncho. Some protein bars and bottles of water. Hhhmmm guess I had better get busy and get them set up....Oh and I will make sure they have cat littler in the car too..

Jean, how uncomfortable that must have been! You really might want to consider one of those amazing little aluminum 'blankets '. They do an incredible job of reflecting your body heat back to you.

Your situation is exactly why my thoughts have been on this. There seems to have been so much unusual or unexpected weather of late. Those of us in my area are being told to be aware of possible tornado conditions today!

I will certainly pick one up!
thanks rhizo