Imagine the scene: It’s winter, it’s cold, it’s snowing. You are driving to see family or friends, or even just heading home from a long day at the office. Then, the snow picks up, covering up ice already on the roads, making travel upon them at first dangerous, then utterly impassable. This isn’t just a thought experiment, it’s a reality every winter across the United States. And it’s one that you don’t want to be caught in unprepared. You want to protect yourself. One way you can do that is by making sure that you have an emergency winter weather kit in your car, just like in your home (something we covered in our previous post). An effective emergency kit will give you peace of mind knowing that you are bringing protection with you wherever you go and whatever old man winter decides to throw at you. What should you keep in your car in case of an emergency? Here are some items recommended by Consumer Reports and the CDC. Flashlight with extra batteries (It gets dark earlier in winter, and you might need it if you need to change a tire) Windshield scraper Shovel Extra blankets and clothes, in case you get stranded Drinking Water Easy-to-prepare meals (Our self-heating, shelf-stable meals and MRE meal kits fit the bill nicely, and provide the comfort of home wherever you are) Cell phone/portable chargers Tire chains and a tow chain Jumper cables Rock salt and/or cat litter, to melt snow and provide traction, as well as add weight for stabilization Emergency flares Chemical hand warmers These are just some of the essentials you will want to have on hand, as well as anything else that will keep you safe and warm until you can be rescued. Don’t wait until it’s too late – Inclement weather can take us all by surprise. If you are one of the many people caught in it, you will want to have a kit and a plan in place. Most importantly, you won’t want to be caught hungry. A hot, homestyle, ready-to-eat meal may not get you back home, but it’ll make you feel more at home until help arrives. That means a lot. Weatherproof your life. Protect yourself. Let Chef 5 Minute Meals help as part of your emergency weather kit and give you the peace of mind that you and your family have a hot meal anytime, anywhere, whatever the weather.