Just last year we had a long and snowy winter break (kids home from school and many people unable to get to work….). And while for many it meant just bundling up and staying indoors, for many others, that wasn’t an option.
As mentioned in the original post, I grew up in Michigan and Minnesota… and have spent a fair amount of time driving in snow. That does NOT mean that I don’t take it seriously. I take it VERY seriously. In fact, in addition to caution while driving, I keep a cold weather survival kit in my vehicle pretty much all of the time.
Winter driving has its rewards. The scenery is different and can be quite beautiful. It is a lot of fun to visit places and shoot pictures of things we hardly ever see covered in snow. And sometimes, there are other rewards… last year I helped the Piedmont Hospital group by delivering staff and supplies to a couple of their local locations.
Some of the things that you should keep in your vehicle all of the time (regardless of the weather) include:
- Charged Cell Phone (or at least a phone and a charger). You never know when you might need to call for help.
- A few bottles of water, and maybe an energy bar or two… no, not for a quick snack on a road trip, but in case you are stuck someplace waiting for help.
- A blanket. There are LOTS of uses for them, in addition to covering up and keeping warm, they can be pillows and slings.
I-85... abandoned... spooky
When the weather turns colder, there are a few more things to add to the kit:
- Mittens… they work better than gloves to keep your hands warm when it is REALLY cold out).
- A warm coat. Even if you are just running around town, you never know if you are going to end up having to walk… or having to sit in a cold car waiting for someone to show up.
- Shoes you can walk in… Boots are even better.
- Lighter.
- A sharp Pocket Knife or Multi-Tool.
- A bag of sand in the trunk isn’t a bad idea.
If you are going to get really fancy, then you might also carry a few other things:
- Saw and/or a hatchet.
- Air Horn.
- Snow Pants.
- Compass.
Awaiting my load of hospital supplies
A lot of it is overkill when you are driving around Atlanta, but you never know. And honestly, the chances of facing a brutal survival situation in most metropolitan areas is pretty slim.
Then again, a few years ago I was returning from Michigan and was stuck in a snow storm for hours near Cincinnati, OH. If I didn’t have 4wd, a full tank of fuel and food, I would have been VERY uncomfortable. Had I hit the storm a couple of hours further up the road, especially if I wasn’t in a 4wd truck, I could have been in trouble.
Hopefully you’ll never need to use the stuff in your emergency kit. But if you do, you’ll be glad it was there.
Here is a link to the original post from last year. It features tips for actually driving in Georgia’s Winter Weather.
