PREP Why you really, really need a Survival Bag in your car trunk!

[Doomer Doug]

While the famous BOB bag gets all the press, it is also true that a survival bag in your car trunk, especially in winter, is a LIFE AND DEATH issue. The link below says why

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...Airport-bomb-cyclone-causes-travel-chaos.html

Hundreds of drivers are left stranded near the Oregon-California border for 17 HOURS in blizzard as large swathes of the US are paralyzed by 'bomb cyclone' and up to 30 inches of snow - canceling flights as 55 million set off for Thanksgiving


Two major winter storms are disrupting the travel plans of 55 million Americans setting off for Thanksgiving

A 100-mile stretch of Interstate 5 in northern California was closed in both directions Wednesday

Drivers report being stuck there for 17 hours in blizzard conditions and some spent the night in their vehicles

Those living in the western two-thirds of the country have been hit with up to 30 inches of snow fall

Snow is falling fast in southern Minnesota, where 12 inches or more is expected during the busy travel period

More than a foot of snow is also forecast in parts of Wisconsin on Wednesday, with schools canceling classes

Thousands were also without power in Missouri on Wednesday morning as high winds whip across the state

And forecasters say possible tornadoes struck communities in Mississippi and Louisiana overnight
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC is also under threat because 40-50 mph gusts of wind are forecast

The storm set to batter the Northwest through Wednesday has been labeled 'historic and unprecedented'

By the weekend, the intense weather is expected to move toward the East Coast, according to forecasters

By Lauren Fruen and Valerie Edwards and Megan Sheets For Dailymail.com and Wires

Published: 01:37 EST, 27 November 2019 | Updated: 15:30 EST, 27 November 2019

Hundreds of cars were left stranded on Interstate 5 headed north from California into Oregon Wednesday following a major storm that dumped snow and created white-out conditions on both sides of the state borders.

Drivers reported being stuck for 17 or more hours in blizzard conditions and some spent the night in their vehicles as large swathes of the country were paralyzed by a 'bomb cyclone' and up to 30 inches of snow.

Stranded cars made it difficult for plows to clear the freeway and it was unclear when the northbound lanes would reopen. I-5 was closed in both directions late Tuesday because of the storm. The southbound lanes are said to have reopened at Ashland, Oregon early Wednesday.

Two major winter storms are disrupting the travel plans of millions of Americans headed to Thanksgiving Day destinations on jam-packed highways and airplanes Wednesday.

Those living in the western two-thirds of the country have been badly hit with deteriorating conditions, forcing the closure of interstates and resulting in canceled flights - just as 55 million set off for the holidays.

Travel was particularly perilous over the Siskiyou Summit, one of the more treacherous mountain passes, and just south of the Oregon-California state line.

'There is a large number of spun out vehicles, large trucks and smaller cars, along the road that didn't put chains in their tires as required,' Denise Yergenson, a Caltrans spokeswoman said. 'That blocked the road and it's hampering our ability to plow.'

Here is a link to tell you what to pack in your car BOB bag.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=car+bob+survival+bag


https://www.backdoorsurvival.com/emergency-car-kit/

 

[sssarawolf]

Good reminder for folks.

 

[Ben Sunday]

I'm all in favor of preparedness be it at home or the bag in the backseat when on the road.

I am absolutely not in favor of piling into the car and attempting to drive considerable distances (or simply drive at all) IN THE FACE OF A FOOT OF SNOW ON THE GROUND OR 30 INCHES EXPECTED IN THE FORECAST.

What the hell is wrong with people? The world will still be turning if you miss dinner with the relatives. If authorities find your remains frozen solid in the plowed wreck of your SUV a holiday dinner will become insignificant real quick.

 

[Doomer Doug]

I realize I am preaching to the choir here, but this is teachable moment to use the proper term.

 

[Doomer Doug]

I see some Darwin Awards coming soon Ben Sunday!

 

[20Gauge]

The wife has hers in the car. Ours is more heat related.

 

[raven]

My first assignment after AF training was Alaska. We had a little Subaru.
Around Christmas we were invited to a party. The house was off the beaten path but then again most were.
We went down a little gravel road across the railroad tracks and that little front wheel drive car was virtually sucked into a snow drift on the side of the road.
It was dark. Because it was Alaska near Christmas. It was dark all day.
It was cold. Because it was Alaska - the interior near Fairbanks. And it was near Christmas.
And we had nothing. in the trunk and it was too far to walk to this guys house.

Thankfully, we got lucky. This big 4x4 pulled up behind me. Guy gets out, shakes his head, pulls out a chain, hooks it up, and pulls us out.
Not a word. Guy said not one single word.
Yea, I kinda believe in Angels.

But anyway. Next day I get a chain, a come along hand wench (it was a subaru), couple blankets, food, couple grocery bags worth of stuff and packed it in the trunk.
lesson learned.

So a few weeks later, its Christmas, and we decided to drive to Anchorage to my cousins for Christmas. about 2 hours south of Fairbanks, the ex says "Honey, turn on the heat".
The heat was on. I looked at the temp gauge on the dash and the engine was stone cold. Because it was not generating enough heat to overcome the temperature of the air going across the radiator.
Shit. I looked in the trunk and nothing . . . except those paper bags with the groceries and shit.
So I emptied a bag and carefully took it apart into a large sheet of brown paper. And I thought to myself "forgot the duck tape"
So, I licked a corner of the paper and stuck it to the hood - it stuck - frozen
I licked the second corner and froze it to the hood.
Finished up the last two corners, got back in the car and waited. And the engine temp rose to normal and the heater now worked.
So we continued on to Anchorage.
That paper bag stayed on the hood all winter. When spring arrived, I built a proper "bra" for the front of the car.

Never forget the duck tape.

 

[Meemur]

I am absolutely not in favor of piling into the car and attempting to drive considerable distances (or simply drive at all) IN THE FACE OF A FOOT OF SNOW ON THE GROUND OR 30 INCHES EXPECTED IN THE FORECAST. What the hell is wrong with people?

Yes! That was my first thought when I saw the headline.

Look, I live in Iowa. I'm no stranger to severe weather, and I do have a winter survival kit in my car.

I also pay close attention to the weather, and there are some days that I only drive to work (which is nearby).

There are a ton of drivers out there who feel that it is their right to go wherever they want, whenever they want. Common sense seems to be on a permanent vacation.

 

[ainitfunny]

I bought this 9lb Sportsman's guide -30 degree bag back when it was $59. I've never used it.
They still sell the same model but it is now $119.
I think I'll toss it into the car now. Rolled up tightly, it just fits into a full sized big Army duffel bag.(the WW2 one that looks like a simple canvas bag. )

 

[L.A.B.]

In early 2004 myself and several other I-5 North traveler were pulled off the highway by CHP due to black ice conditions about 45 minutes before dusk.

Having let Chico CA a few hours earlier and headed for the Southern OR Coast, the mandatory over-nighter in Yreka CA was a instant Party as everyone filled the lodges and swarmed one of the towns roadside Mexican Restaurants. It was one of those if life hands you a lemon, ask for a lime instead, add a little salt and why not just go full Margarita. Just enough to take the ice off your wiper blades of course.

In the cab. Full on winter wear, backpack, sleeping bag, tent, solo stoves, Mountain House, water purification, and fire making... But no Margarita mix.

That night at the restaurant, it was way too much fun meeting people from all over the nation on I-5 North. I still recall the U.S. Service person traveling with his family in a 6-Cylinder Ford Ranger, towing a huge travel trailer with ideas of backtracking to a windy East-West Hwy 36 that might be fun in a FWD turbo-diesel car. I felt so bad for him because he had 5 or 6 days to get from Florida where he left, to some military station in Washington state due to mil-time restraints.

Lesson learned. Expect the unexpected, prep for it, and make the best of it.

 

[Pinecone]

I thought you might be referring to those people who are now evacuated from their homes in Texas. Nothing like being at work and not being able to get back home. A change of undies and socks if nothing else will improve your day. An entire change of clothing is even better.

 

[summerthyme]

I've always bern OCD about keeping a winter kit in the car... probably ever since we got caught 20 miles from home in the completely UNforecasted Blizzard of '77, in a fastback Ford Mustang...with a 2 week old nursing baby at home, and onky enough formula for 2 feedings!

We actually got home (that still surprises me... we were bucking 4 foot drifts in that little rear wheel drive sports car, and there were cars and trucks off the road everywhere. It was damned fortunate we did... besides the nursing baby (at least we were dairy farmers... my Mom was babysitting, and she woukd have devised a formula using cows milk if she'd had to)... but we were dairy farmers, and my fsther-in-law had gone to Buffalo that day to get sone machinrry repaired. With both he and hubby gone, there was no one home who had even the barest clue about how to milk a cow... or anything else.

FIL got home 5 DAYS later... spent the first 2 days camping in a gas station, eating whatever wss in the vending machines. Then some volunteers on snowmobiles evacuated everyone from the gas station (good thing, as they were out of junk food!) And took them to a restaurant to stay until the state of emergency was lifted.

So... I always had a kit in the car. And I didn't think twice abiut heading up to go shopping in Canada the Mobday before Thanksgiving about 20 years ago. I was driving my little front wheel drive Subaru Impreza, and the weather forecast wss clear.

I just about got my shopping done at a small city about 70 miles north of the border when it started to snow. By the time I'd gotten within 20 miles of the border, it was a full fledged blizzard, and there were cars everywhere off the rosd, and close to 3 feet of snow on the road. I was doing well, though, and was just thinking I might get home, when i came on a plow truck...he'd jacknifed and was completely stuck sideways across both lanes. At that point, I thought, "thank God I have my winter kit"... and I glanced into the back seat to reassure myself that the sleeping bag was with it... and the seat was empty!

Turns out our teenage son had cleaned the car out the Friday before, to take h8s girlfriend to Homecoming... and he'd taken *everything* out! I could have killed him!

Anyway, at that point, realizing I'd be in real trouble if I was stuck there, and having had some experience with how well that little car could handle deep snow, I decided I wouldn't be any worse off if I ended up stuck in the median...so I drove around the stuck plow truck into the 3 feet of snow in the median.. and right back onto the road.

Thankfully, the storm's edge was almost right on the border, mso my last 70 miles home was much less nervewracking, but I was very grateful to arrive. And DS heard about his thorough car cleaning job!

Summerthyme

 

[jward]

Ask the LaBaron family why you never hit the road without every contingency planned for, and with a mitigation strategy for every possible problem.

 

[rmomaha]

I carry a BOB in my Jeep along with a Cabela's -35 degree sleeping bag and 2 man tent.

 

[Laurane]

I get a chain, a come along hand wench, couple blankets, food, couple grocery bags worth of stuff and packed it in the trunk

sounds like you were going on a picnic with an unwilling female....... guess you mean winch?? lol

We still have our HEAVY arctic down sleeping back - it is not something I would be able to carry more than a few feet.....still in its canvas bag.

 

[ainitfunny]

Stuck in snow 17 hrs?
Carry an OPAQUE poncho in the car, so you can relieve yourself beside the road without other drivers actually seeing anything.
Of course they KNOW what you're doing, but they can't actually see anything exposed.

ALSO remember Traction pads so you can get your car unstuck if you are not actually in a ditch, just hit a slippery spot.
I think I will also try to buy a pair 48" long traction pads for $20. Cheap and Easy to carry and saves MUCH time, trouble and money if you have to call for a tow without them.

Well, to tell the truth, I actually check the weather before driving at this time of the year, and if the temp is anywhere near 32 degrees I reschedule appointments and postpone any shopping. The only thing faster than an un-predicted storm is HOW FAST the Natnl Wthr Svc can alter their supposed weather "forecast" after the fact, when it is obviously, markedly wrong just by looking out the window.

 

[wab54]

So... I always had a kit in the car. And I didn't think twice abiut heading up to go shopping in Canada the Mobday before Thanksgiving about 20 years ago. I was driving my little front wheel drive Subaru Impreza, and the weather forecast wss clear.

I just about got my shopping done at a small city about 70 miles north of the border when it started to snow. By the time I'd gotten within 20 miles of the border, it was a full fledged blizzard, and there were cars everywhere off the rosd, and close to 3 feet of snow on the road. I was doing well, though, and was just thinking I might get home, when i came on a plow truck...he'd jacknifed and was completely stuck sideways across both lanes. At that point, I thought, "thank God I have my winter kit"... and I glanced into the back seat to reassure myself that the sleeping bag was with it... and the seat was empty!

Turns out our teenage son had cleaned the car out the Friday before, to take h8s girlfriend to Homecoming... and he'd taken *everything* out! I could have killed him!

Anyway, at that point, realizing I'd be in real trouble if I was stuck there, and having had some experience with how well that little car could handle deep snow, I decided I wouldn't be any worse off if I ended up stuck in the median...so I drove around the stuck plow truck into the 3 feet of snow in the median.. and right back onto the road.

Thankfully, the storm's edge was almost right on the border, mso my last 70 miles home was much less nervewracking, but I was very grateful to arrive. And DS heard about his thorough car cleaning job!

Summerthyme

What did you do about the teenage son and your preps?


WAB

 

[Signwatcher]

I remember when I was in my 20s and 30s...we would go to my grandparents house. They lived three hours away. My husband and I had no provisions for an emergency. I wore dress clothes and shoes.

One time we had a car breakdown in a blizzard out in the middle of nowhere. By God's grace it was in someone's driveway.

They were gracious and we spent the next three hours sitting with them in their living room waiting for my folks to dri
ve there to get us.

All's well that ends well, but you wouldn't catch me traveling anywhere without an emergency kit. I dress for the weather now.

Amazing that all the traveling my folks did during my childhood and we never had any issues. They didn't have an emergency kit either. I believe it was an entirely different time.

 

[Freeholder]

I was just talking to my Mom, who is in a care center in Klamath Falls waiting for back surgery. She said that pass on I-5 is a really bad one. I know I don’t much like driving through there even when the roads are dry. For a major interstate, it gets pretty windy and twisty.

She said the little court yard at the care center is so full of snow that they can’t open the door. At their house, an hour NE of Klamath Falls, they have eighteen inches to two feet of snow - and they are on the dry side of the mountains.

Kathleen

 

[Great Northwet]

Thanks for the heads up and reminder DD.

It's time to switch out the energy bars and matches in my car kit. Also need another football blanket.

 

[summerthyme]

What did you do about the teenage son and your preps?


WAB

Oh, he got a lecture. The thing is, he was just recovering from a *severe* closed head injury, and had little to no short term memory. And even so, he was a genuinely good kid, and had always been trustworthy until his injury. I'm sure he intended to put it back after the dance, but that probably slipped his mind 10 seconds after removing it from the car! And since he left it in the machine shed, not the house, I didn't get a visual reminder that it wasn't in the car.

Now, if this had happened after I issued explicit instructions to *not* move the winter kit, he'd probably have extra chores for awhile... we had the cleanest stalls snd pens in town during the period we had 2 teenage boys and one preteen boy!

But since I got home without it costing me anything but a few minutes of frustration and worry, and I got a free car detailing out of it... it was all good.

Note, though, that both of my "interesting" storm experiences were NOT forecasted in any way or at any time... thry were playing catchup the entire time. You ALWAYS need to be prepared in snow country!

Summerthyme

 

[nomifyle]

Thank God I don't live in snow country. I got caught a couple of years ago in ER with DH when he was having complications from his pancreas surgery. My phone was dying and I did not have a charge cord in my purse. A kindly nurse loan me hers to get my phone charged. After that I never leave home without a charge cord for my phone and DH's. I put together a hospital bag that had everything I would need overnight in the hospital. I say had because I took it apart a few weeks ago to clean it out and I have everything in a five gallon bucket, which in despiration I could grab and put it in the truck. Although I do have a few things in my purse, which makes it heavy but I don't leave home without it. I also have a couple of battery packs to recharge my phone if I don't have an electrical outlet. My purse even has a crappy little umbrella in it but its a lot better than nothing. I hate getting wet.

All that said I'm older now and I always check the weather (heavy rain can be a nightmare) and if its going to be bad I stay home, there is little that is really necessary to get out in bad weather for, unless its a health emergency.

There were so many many times I had to go to work in the rain and stand at the bus stop getting drenched and then working all day in wet shoes. I had a piteful raincoat and umbrella but no rain boots. I almost always wear my rain boots now whether its raining or not. I was so unprepared back in those days. I'm so blessed I don't have to live like that anymore.

Judy

 

[Terriannie]

Though we don't have the snow and cold problems I have been stuck in traffic during a hurricane evacuation when both East/West Interstate roads led out of New Orleans. People were stopped for hours! (I took me over 6 hours just to finally make it 35 miles to my house.)

As a proper Tb2ker, I was fully prepared with phone, water and trail mix but I didn't DARE drink or EAT! Why not????

I watched as a poor mother with a car full of kids being forced to pull off onto the median and watched as she tried to shield them with a small coat as they used the bathroom in front of EVERYBODY!!

Suffice to say, don't forget to prepare for bathroom urges.!!!!

 

[Squib]

Ask the LaBaron family why you never hit the road without every contingency planned for, and with a mitigation strategy for every possible problem.

Yes, in that case, you need small arms...many, with much ammo, interlocking sectors of fire, overwatch, NV, and while yer at it, close air support!