As the days grow shorter we know the Summer season is winding down and Autumn is quickly arriving behind it. September is usually the month that we begin to think of the eventual arrival of Winter and begin the transition that comes with it. Especially where I’m at up in Alaska. We pack away our Summer toys and clothes, such as short sleeve shirts, shorts, backpacking gear, jet skis, kayaks, and the majority of our camping gear. We slowly replace them with warmer coats, shoes, hats and gloves, and all the accessories associated with cooler fall and winter weather.

This time of transition should also be our time of reassessment for our emergency preparedness clothing and gear. It’s the perfect time to dig into our Bug Out Bags, emergency rations and medical supplies to make sure everything still works, fits, and is safe to use. It’s essential to any well thought out sustainability plan to have periodic reevaluations. These evaluations allow you to replace any expired medication and food products, along with any clothing you may have outgrown. One area that we ought to not overlook and inspect is our Vehicle Preparedness Bag, which should be in our vehicles whenever we drive them.

 

What is a Vehicle Preparedness Bag and Why Do I NEED one ?

Simply explained a Vehicle Preparedness Bag is a bag or backpack that is kept in your vehicle in order to sustain you while you are away from your home during an emergency situation. This bag has been referred to by many names: 72 Hour Bag and Get Home Bag are some of the most popular names associated with a vehicle preparedness bag. The idea behind these types of bags is to allow you to have an easy to carry stash of food, supplies, and clothing to assist you in getting home or to your prearranged meeting place in the event of an emergency event.

You don’t NEED a Vehicle Preparedness Bag, but I can promise you a well thought out and assembled bag will increase your chances of getting back safely into the arms of your friends and family. If this doesn’t sound appealing to you then disregard the rest of this article.

When making a Vehicle Preparedness Bag, there are several variables to consider. Weather conditions, potential threats, caloric intake and medical needs should be taken into account. In our scenario, we will be building  a Get Home Bag to be used during the Winter months in an area where sub freezing temperatures and snow might be present. This template can be applied to more than 50% of the continental United States during the months of October thru April.

Where to Start ?