Max Copeland is IPR's newsroom producer and afternoon news host. This essay aired Dec. 12, 2024.
The National Weather Service has a winter storm warning in effect today. Fresh snowfall and strong gusts of wind can create whiteout conditions in a heartbeat.
Today is the coldest day this week with highs in the mid-teens. And, listen, I’m gonna be real with you for a minute.
On my way home from work last night, I hit a pothole and popped my right front tire. No harm, no foul. I didn’t damage the rim and I was past due for a new set of tires anyway.
But here is why I am telling you this: I was okay because I was prepared.
I was driving home in a pair of corduroys, a sweatshirt and, yes, sneakers — not exactly winter weather wear. So without the winter essentials I keep in my trunk, I would not have been able to stay outside long enough to change my tire.
I had a pair of boots, insulated overalls, a heavy down parka, a pair of liner gloves and a pair of mittens.
I even had a double XL high-viz vest, because people wearing dark clothes disappear at night. Plus I need the vest to be big enough to fit over an extra large down parka or even a backpack.
A full tank of gas also falls under the purview of emergency preparedness any time of year but especially in the winter. So when my fuel gauge hits the halfway mark, I seek out a gas station.
I also keep a headlamp, some hand warmers and a couple granola bars.
There was, however, one thing I did not have. I unscrewed the bolts and kicked the tire hard but it wouldn’t budge.
Luckily a friend was close by, and with one swing of his sledgehammer, my tire finally fell off.
Max’s winter car essentials:
- A full tank of gas
- Boots: Insulated, or non-insulated with a pair of heavy wool socks
- Insulated overalls or snow pants (I like the overall kind so I don’t have any snow finding its way into my britches.)
- Sweatshirt, fleece, puffy, or any other mid-layer.
- Rain jacket or umbrella. (I keep both in my trunk. They didn’t come into play this time, but they have more than once. Also similarly to the hi-viz vest, I like to size up my rain jacket so I can wear it over my outer layers… or again a backpack)
- Heavy coat (I recommend down)
- Liner gloves + Mittens (After a childhood of barehanded snowball fights, my hands are now especially sensitive to the cold. So I need both a pair of liner gloves and some nice mittens if I want to be comfortable)
- Winter hat or a neck gaiter (which is good for face and neck coverage, it can also be turned into a hat)
- Head lamp, so you can use your hands
- Hand warmers (Single use. I have the rechargeable ones too. They heat up faster and can be used more than once, so they’re great for daily use. But they don’t last as long and require maintenance. So for an emergency car kit my money is on the single use shake-’em-up kind.)
- Food (I like granola bars. They’re non-perishable, fairly filling and nutritious, and ready to eat.)
- Small snow shovel
- It goes without saying, but you obviously need a window scraper and brush
- And finally — especially if your car is older or you don’t rotate your tires regularly — a sledgehammer. Just in case.
