What should be in a vehicle emergency kit?

Cover the common roadside failures: a portable jump starter or jumper cables, basic tools, a flashlight, a blanket, drinking water, and a small first aid kit. Add a tire repair kit and a portable inflator if your vehicle has no spare. In winter, add extra warm layers, a folding shovel, and traction aids like sand or cat litter. A portable jump starter is more reliable than cables because it does not need a second vehicle to be present.

Why keep my gas tank at least half full?

A half-tank habit means you always have enough fuel to drive 100 to 200 miles without stopping. During evacuations and supply disruptions, gas stations run dry within hours and the pumps that remain often have long lines. Refueling whenever you reach half a tank costs nothing extra and guarantees range when you need it most. It also reduces condensation in the tank over time.

How do I safely store extra fuel at home?

Store gasoline only in UL-listed or ASTM-approved containers, never in unmarked jugs. Keep it in a ventilated space such as a detached shed, away from any ignition source including water heaters, furnaces, and electrical panels, because gasoline vapors are heavier than air and pool at floor level. Never store fuel inside your home or an attached garage. Stabilizer additives extend usable life, and rotating stored fuel into your vehicle every few months keeps it fresh.

How will I get fuel if gas stations lose power?

Station pumps need electricity, so during a widespread outage only stations with backup generators can dispense fuel. Learn ahead of time which stations in your area have generators, since they become the reliable sources in an outage. If supply is tight, stretch what you have with conservation driving: combine trips, keep speeds moderate, avoid idling, and keep tires properly inflated. A half-tank habit means an outage rarely catches you near empty.

Why keep paper maps if I have GPS?

GPS depends on satellite signal, a charged device, and often cell coverage, and any of those can fail in a disaster. A current paper road atlas works in any condition, shows alternate routes at a glance, and helps you understand the broader geography when planning a detour around flooding or a closure. Pair the atlas with real knowledge of at least two routes to each place you go often, driven in advance so they are familiar under stress.

Transportation Preparedness Checklist — Vehicle Readiness, Fuel & Navigation

1/2

tank: never go below

routes to each destination

100+ mi

range a half tank buys

paper atlas in the vehicle

Step 1

Vehicle Readiness.

A vehicle that fails during an evacuation is a liability, not an asset. Basic maintenance and a stocked kit keep it dependable.

Transportation

Build a vehicle emergency kit and establish a readiness habit
Confirm tires, oil, coolant, wipers, and battery are current
Stock your vehicle: jumper cables or jump starter, basic tools, blanket, water, flashlight
Confirm spare tire is inflated and jack and lug wrench are located (or stock a tire repair kit)

Step 2

Fuel Management.

Gas stations run dry fast in an evacuation, and pumps need power. A half-tank habit and a fuel plan keep you moving.

Evacuation

Establish a fuel plan for your vehicle
Check your vehicle fuel level right now

Transportation

Establish a half-tank rule: refuel when your tank reaches half
If storing fuel: use an approved container, ventilated storage, away from ignition sources
Know what to do when gas stations have no power or run dry

Step 3

Navigation and Routes.

GPS depends on satellites, batteries, and coverage. Paper maps and known routes work in any condition.

Evacuation

Map your primary and secondary evacuation routes
Drive your primary and secondary evacuation routes

Transportation

Keep a current paper road atlas or state maps in your vehicle
Know at least two routes to each frequent destination without GPS

Gear

Essentials. Start here.

A jump starter, a fuel container, and a road atlas cover the common failures.

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Vehicle Readiness.

Transportation

Fuel Management.

Evacuation

Transportation

Navigation and Routes.

Evacuation

Transportation

Essentials. Start here.

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