How prepared are you?

I left my car headlights on this morning when I went in to work... when I came out for lunch, the battery was dead. I conveniently had one of those portable jumper batteries in my trunk and it took less than a minute to jump my own car. I felt well prepared. Of course, the reason I have that portable jumper battery in my trunk is that I do this all the time... "an ounce of prevention..."

I have two different levels of bug out bag in my Suzuki 'jeep'. This is earthquake country.I have First aid,water and emergency supplies with me at all times.

I never thought about carrying a lighter until reading this post...

I used to smoke, quite almost a year ago... and I was afraid that carrying one would make me want to smoke... I know now that it wouldn't.

I think I'll get two bics and put them in the cars... good idea.

I couple years ago. I had a Bic lighter in my car on a hot summer day and it exploaded. I was not in the car and I dont think there was any fire. I came out after work and there were plastic fragments all over the inside of the car.

When I drove my

F-250 super Duty Crew Cab with cap on the back I was prepared for just about anything. I didn't have a winch but that was about the only thing I would really have liked. I had tow straps, jumper cables, several hundered feet of heavy rope, usually a tarp, tools guns, knives etc. Now that I drive a a much smaller car, a Toyota Matrix, the possibility of getting stuck in a snow bank somewhere off the beaten path is a little more likely. I still have more firepower than I will ever need. I have one of those back seat 3-gun carriers from Cabella's loaded with an AR, Remington 870 and a Saiga 7.62x39. I have three loaded 30 rounders with the AR, a belt full of buckshot and slugs for the 870 and, a 30 rounder and five rounder full of amo for the Saiga. The only real reason I have this much stuff in the car is that the range is much closer to work than home. I also generally have a Glock in the console, one on my belt and an LCP in my pocket. I am behind the curve on making my car disaster ready but I do have the jumper cables, flashlight knives etc. After reading this I will be adding a bag with extra warm clothes, rope and, maybe a sleeping bag. I will also throw in some power bars or candy as well as a lighter and some sterno. Sterno is light and will provide heat as well as melt snow or defrost the frozen bottles of water left in the car. Of course, I also have a cell phone and a triple A card as well.

I have a fire extinguisher, a lighter or two, an emergency blanket, a heavy duty tow strap, extra clothing, special map book, trash bag or two, hand disinfectant stuff, first aid kit, jumper cables, and am going to put in the shovel and a pair of nice wire cutters I used for work - hopefully my cheap alternative to a LifeHammer. Probably forgot some things and definitely should add some mentioned already.

A couple of winters ago we got a blizzard that dumped 4 feet on the flat & drifts of almost 15 feet or so in a day. we were 5 miles from a paved road ( IOW no snowplows) we were snowed in for 3 weeks till the Army showed up and other than being incredibly bored we were ok. But where I live that's a normal winter so it's not something you make special preperation for you just live that way

I'm pretty darn prepared. I carry a E2 Surefire, HK P2K, Med kit, and cell with an extra battery.
I have a loaded BUG BAG in the car alll the time.

I have a loaded BUG BAG in the car alll the time.

Click to expand...

What if all the roads are closed and you have to shelter in place with no public water?

I'm so spoiled. I live surrounded by fresh water in lakes, ponds and rivers (some of those rivers are not safe for regular drinking), fresh springs, fresh groundwater, and lush vegetation, much of it edible wild plants, rich in water. Winter is different, to be sure, but for the most part if you can melt it you can drink it.

Yeah, check to make sure it's not yellow before you melt it and drink it.

I carry a pistol, a spare mag, Surefire Z2 Combatlight, cell-phone, pocket knife, notepad pen and other stuff on my person.
In my vehicle I had my EMT kit, a backpack with 'survival' equipment in it, tow gear, Ham Radio, computer navigation system and a nice AK-style rifle with a spare mag or two in my vehicle!
I keep a few extra pistol mags in my vehicle as well. If it gets to the point where I need to use the extra pistol mags something has gone seriously wrong, especially since if I'm using my pistol mags that means my rifle ammo has run dry!!

On my person, I carry a Smith & Wesson M&P40C with spare mag, OC spray, Buck Taclite 888 folding knife, and cell phone.

In my everyday vehicles, I carry the following:

Flashlight
First Aid Kit
Lighter and/or Matches
Flares
Fix-A-Flat
Jumper Cables
Tire Plug Kit
Spare Tire
Jack
Lug Wrench
Power Inverter
Channel Locks
Small Socket Set
Various Screwdrivers
Small Adjustable Wrench

In my pickup, which is equipped with a winch, an on-board air compressor, and a CB radio and is what I drive if I leave "civilization", I add the following:

Fixed Blade Knife
Extra Batteries
Leatherman Tool
Small Backup Flashlight
Heavy-Duty Tow Strap
Small Ax
Folding Military Shovel
Tie Down Straps
Rope
Survival Saw
Fire Extinguisher
6 Clif Bars
12 100% Real Fruit Bars
Water
Extra Clothing
Map
Mossberg 500 loaded w/Federal Flitecontrol Buckshot for extra range

I think that about covers it...