No one expects to slide off the road, get stuck in a snowdrift, or find themselves waiting for a tow truck with temperatures hovering just above freezing. But if this happens to you, you’ll be glad you took a few extra minutes to prepare.
It’s worth reviewing what you should have in your vehicle as a winter emergency kit.
The advice below has been shared by local authorities and the National Weather Service.
So prepare your emergency kit and store it in your vehicle, and try to stay as comfortable as possible. If you need to restock some of these items, we’ve tried to find you links to the lowest prices online.
Jumper cables are an essential part of any winter emergency kit for your vehicle. Photo courtesy of Amazon.
#1 Jumper Cables
Jumper cables are essential. Store them in your trunk. Even if you don’t need them, chances are someone else in need is hoping you have them. Don’t have a pair or want to update yours for an easy to use setup? Find the best deals here:
#2 Flashlight with Fresh Batteries
Make sure you have a working flashlight. And keep it in your glove box, center console or door compartment so you don’t have to rummage through the trunk when you need it. Need more flashlights? Find the best deals online at Amazon, Walmart or Home Depot.
#3 Phone and charger
You’ll want to make sure your phone is fully charged when you’re hitting the road in tough conditions. In bad weather, let others know with a text or call when you’re leaving for your destination, and again when you’ve arrived. As a backup, a cell phone charger is also a good idea in case your vehicle loses power and you can’t charge your phone from your car.
Westbound I-196 is closed after a multi-vehicle pile-up over Butterworth St. SW in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Police are working to divert traffic onto Lake Michigan Drive, or M-45. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)Cory Morse | MLive.com
#4 First aid kit
You always hope you never need one, but it’s a good idea to have an emergency first aid kit in your car. Keep it stocked with bandages, gauze, painkiller, disinfectant, scissors, and other supplies you may need. Need a ready-to-use kit? Find them here.
#5 Fill up your gas tank
Bad weather often results in slow traffic and lines of stopped cars forced to wait while other vehicles are pulled from ditches or loaded onto tow trucks. Be sure to keep your gas tank full so you don’t need roadside assistance.
#6 Emergency Flares
You might think this one is overkill, but flares and a reflective triangle are good to keep on hand. They can help your vehicle be seen better at night if it is on the side of the road. Need easy to use emergency flares? Check out the stock flares on Amazon and Walmart for great deals.
Gloves and mittens are on display.Kaytie Boomer | MLive
#7 Extra hat, mittens, warm clothes
Of course, you are wearing a winter jacket. But if you have to wait a long time in a cold vehicle, you will need a little more heat. Even if you don’t wear them, make sure you have a spare hat, mittens, scarf and sweater for each person in your car. If you have to walk for help, you’ll be glad they’re there.
#8 Battery Operated Radio
A battery-operated or crank-operated radio is the best choice.
#9 Cat litter or sand
When Mother Nature brings heavy ice and snow, it’s wise to have some traction on hand. Keep a tube of road sand or even a container of kitty litter in your trunk. Sprinkled around your wheels, it can give you the instant traction that’s the difference between getting back on the road or calling a tow truck.
YnM Cooling Weighted Blanket, 100% Natural Bamboo Viscose, 15 lbs 48”x72”, Luxury Heavy Blanket 2.0, Seagrass
#10 Blankets or a sleeping bag
No, we do not recommend sleeping in your car in winter. But having an extra blanket — or even a rolled up sleeping bag — on hand can add extra warmth if you have to wait for help.
#11 Snacks
Keep small, easy-to-store snacks handy. A Ziploc bag filled with granola bars, nuts, dried fruit and cheese crackers will do the trick. Or you can be like me and put away some Snickers and some banana chips.
#12 Water
Keep a container of fresh water in the car, whether it’s a few plastic water bottles you bring on every trip – don’t just leave them in the boot, they’ll freeze solid – or a canister travel bags that you regularly take with you.
ice scraper
#13 Ice scraper
We’re surprised at how many people we know who have an ice scraper in their garage, but don’t keep one in their back seat. And no, don’t think you can just use the side of your gloved hand or scrape ice off your windshield with a credit card. Yes, we have seen you do that.
#14 Shovel
We know shovels are for driveways. But there are times when you might need a small shovel or a broom to get you out of a traffic jam. And when you need it, you’ll be glad you were smart enough to put it in your trunk.
#15 Know the forecast
You wouldn’t get into your vehicle without knowing where you were going. So don’t hit the road until you’ve checked the forecast. Know what you’re heading into, especially if a storm is forecast. Know when the next heavy snowfall is and any other conditions that could make the trip dangerous.
Make sure you have what you need in your car if you’re going to be on the road in winter in Michigan.
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