Emergency Travel Kit:
Say we are going to get a big snow storm and for whatever reason, you need to travel somewhere. You're on a snow-covered road, loose control, and end up in a ditch. It's a big storm and you are quite a distance out of town… so what should you have in your car to help keep you safe?
Here is a list of items to pack the car with before winter weather hits:
- flashlight
- flares or reflective triangle
- colored cloth or ribbon (to tie to the antenna)
- distress sign
- telephone change
- first aid supplies
- basic tools
- a fully charged cell phone & a charger
Other recommended items are:
- boots
- hat
- coat
- gloves
- jumper cables
- carpet strips, sand or kitty litter for traction
- ice scraper and brush
- small shovel
- blanket
- nonperishable food / bottles of water (you need to keep up protein & fats to stay warm-trail mix, nuts, granola bars, chocolate, etc. are all good choices)
Maybe you are thinking, "Well, all I really need is a cell phone to call AAA". Just remember, if severe winter weather has broken out, it may take quite a bit of time for help to arrive and hypothermia becomes a danger. Also, what if you don't have a signal?
It might not be a bad idea to stick a sleeping bag in the trunk too (might as well).
(References: Road & Travel Magazine, AAA)
Here are the phone numbers to check road conditions on the highways in WV & VA:
West Virginia: 511 Virginia: 1-866-695-1182
