Prepare Your Car for an Emergency Evacuation

  We are used to have one or two cars per family and we can’t see us living without these useful vehicles. Your car will provide you with transportation to safety and it may even become your shelter during a disaster. Prepping your car could save lives and it’s critical to always have a well-prepared and well-maintained vehicle.  

Prepping your car – Upkeep and Inspections

Keeping your car in good shape shouldn’t be done only for the end of the world and it should be a general rule. You shouldn’t do the yearly inspection just because your state’s regulations require you to do so. You should do it because the car your drive daily keeps you safe and gets you back to your family. You don’t have to be a mechanic to spot if something is wrong with your car. Here are just a few basic checkups you can do before prepping your car:

• Check if the tires are in good shape and properly inflated.
• Check if the windshield wipers are in good condition and if all the lights are working.
• Make sure your brakes are holding without making any squealing noise.
• Pay a good look at the hoses, belts and the radiator and make sure they are in good shape.
• Check the battery for any signs of corrosion. You should replace it every three to four years, to make sure you don’t get any surprises.
• Make sure all your systems are performing well and you don’t have any warning lights/symbols flickering on the board.

If any of the basics checkups listed above made you wonder, you should get the problems fixed right away.

Prepping your car is not only about what others can do for it, but it’s about what you can do for your vehicle. There will be times when you will be on your own and without a repair kit your vehicle will become a road block.

Prepping your Car – Repair Kit

 Every car owner should have space for an emergency repair kit in the car. When it comes to prepping your car you should consider the following for your repair kit:

• A spare tire
• A tire repair kit
• Jack and tire iron
• Gravel, sand or kitty litter that can be used for traction on icy road spots
• A box of extra fuses
• Duct tape
• Hose clamps
• Road Flares
• A collapsible or multi-use shovel
• Snow brush and ice scraper
• Floodlight
• Windshield washer fluid
• Oil and engine coolant (the type recommended for your vehicle)
• Jumper cables
• Fire extinguisher
• Pry bar
• Empty gas can, siphon, and funnel (you will have to scavenge for fuel at some time)

These items are a minimum for prepping your car and you should consider getting them. If you know how to do your own repair, a more extensive tool chest is required, but that’s not the case for all people. Most of us will have to find a reliable auto mechanic or use other means of transportation.

This is not the time to learn how to tear down and engine, but you should at least be able to change a flat tire, check the oil and add coolant.

When it comes to my car, I’ve developed the habit of filling the gas tank when it is half full. I’m doing this because I don’t want to be caught off guard if something happens. Gas will be rationed or become unavailable during a crisis and you don’t want to run on empty. You might have fuel stored somewhere, but you need to get there first.

Prepping your Car – Emergency Kit

Besides a repair kit, every car should have an emergency kit. The good news is that you can use your bug out bag for that. Your bug out bag should include most of the items needed for an emergency if you’ve done your homework.

Think about adding these items when prepping your car:

• Water and food depending on the number of your family members
• Energy bars
• Waterproof matches
• Hot packs
• Sunscreen and insect repellent in summer
• A small compact medi-kit
• Light sticks
• Road flares
• Collapsible stove and fuel canister
• Aluminum foil
• Water filter
• Small pan
• Unbreakable cup or mug
• Hand cranked radio
• Flashlight (a hand cranked or solar rechargeable one)
• Whistle
• A few heavy-duty trash bags
• Wool blankets
• A tarp
• Rain ponchos
• A cell phone
• A GPS system
• Baby supplies, if you have a young child (diapers, baby food, and so on)
• Pet supplies
• A few distraction items (something to keep the kids busy, like their favorite toys, portable video game, etc)
• Make sure to add an extra set of clothing for each family member when prepping your car (it’s good to have gear that can be used for all types of weather)
• One or more protection items of your choice (firearms, crossbow, stun gun, knife, etc)

Related article: These items should be in your 72 hour Bug Out Bag

Prepping your car – Travel Safe!

When you start prepping your car you should start thinking about things that do not require buying or storing items. You might have everything you need in your car, but you are not ready to go without taking some precautionary measures:

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