Welcome to Driving the Fear Out of Winter Storms How to winterize you vehicle inside and out.

Difference between a Winter storm warning, watch, and Winter weather Advisory

The importance of staying home According to the Department of Transportation, each year 24 percent of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement and 15 percent happen during snowfall or sleet. Over 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle crashes on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement annually.

Quick tips: Fully check and winterize your vehicle before the winter season begins. Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Avoid traveling alone. Let someone know your travel plans and primary and alternate routes. If your car gets stuck run the car engine for 10 minutes every hour to keep warm.

So What Goes in your Winter weather Emergency Kit???

Flashlight with extra batteries Your flashlight can be used to signal emergency personnel or light at night I would suggest that you take the batteries out of the flash light to prevent batteries corrosion.

First Aid Kit note that when you have a first aid kit you must check your items for expiration dates and restock after uses.

Shovel Should you be stranded, you can dig yourself out, and to clear your tailpipe from snow. There have been multiple situations where people have lost their lives due to carbon monoxide poisoning while sitting in their vehicles with snow clogging the pipe.

Windshield scraper To keep the wind shield clean so any light may be visible.

Blanket/sleeping Bags

High-calorie, non-perishable food Peanuts and almonds can give the body deep warmth that lasts.

Water Check the expiration date on the bottle Water Check the expiration date on the bottle. Although water, in and of itself, does not go bad, the plastic bottle it is contained in does "expire," and will eventually start leaching chemicals into the water.

Battery booster cables

Extra bright color clothing

Why should you have bright color clothing in your winter weather survival kit? (with the exception of white) To keep dry To signal help To make your self visible if you are outside you car.

A bucket of cat litter/ sand For tire traction in case you get stuck in snow

mobile phone with charger

Emergency Triangles

Some more items to think about….

Rain Boots

Pole if your car is with out an antenna When a major storm hits, sometimes thousands of people are stranded in their vehicles. Tie a red piece of fabric or the brightest item of clothing in your emergency preparedness kit to your vehicle’s antenna as a sign to rescuers. If you don't have an antenna, use a pole, or tie it to the door handle facing the direction from which help is most likely to arrive.

Swiss army Knife

Large empty Bucket A large empty bucket. If you are stranded USE IT!

Paper towels

waterproof matches

Tow rope/chain You never know when you will be stuck in a ditch or a big pile of snow. you need to hook up to another vehicle to help pull you until you can gain traction.

personal additions What make your emergency kit your emergency kit

  NOAA WEATHER RADIO I would include my NOAA weather radio and flashlight in my kit.

Compass and road maps

What would you personalize your kit with