Transportation
Transportation is an important part of life and it can
be just as important during an emergency. Below are
some things to consider in your Transportation preparation
efforts.
Equipment -
Consider all of the transportation equipment that you may have
or would like to have at your disposal during an
emergency. For each one on your list, prepare for its use and
maintenance.
- Air
Compressor - Click here to learn more about Air
Compressors.
- ATV - If
you have a snow removal blade and/or tire chains,
keep them available.
- Automobile - Keep them in good
shape and well stocked with a good Auto Emergency Kit.
- Bicycle -
Keep it ready to use.
- Boat -
Many kinds of Boats can be used in an evacuation or a
rescue such as
-
- Canoe
- Fishing Boat
- Kayak
- Raft
- Row Boat
- Ski Boat
- Cane or
Walking Stick
- These come in handy if you need to hike anywhere, even if
you would not normally use one.
- Car Jack
- Flat tires happen during emergencies too. Besides that,
they can be used to help rescue someone who may be
trapped.
- Car Jumper
Cables - This is a good idea to store for
your car or to help others.
- Car Ramps
- These allow you to work on your vehicle.
- Chain -
This can have many uses such as to tow another vehicle or
to pull something out of a ditch.
- Crutches
- You may not need them today, but, perhaps an emergency
will produce the need for them.
- Fuel Cans
- Use approved containers and keep them full. Rotate the
fuel.
- GPS -
This navigation system may or may not work during or after
an emergency, but if it does, use it. Be sure to have
access to all the cables it needs.
- Horse
Trailer - This can be used to haul more
than just horses. It could even be used to contain your
trash.
- Ice
Scraper - If the weather is cold and wet,
these are a must.
- Kennel -
If you have small animals, this can not only protect
them, it can protect other animals and people as well.
Be sure you have a vehicle that can haul them.
- Motorcycle - This can work well
to help one or two people escape. Keep it ready.
- Snow
Blower - If you have one, keep it ready
during snow season.
- Spare
Tire - Have at least one for each
vehicle.
- Tools -
Make sure you can fix what might break. At least have a
basic set of tools that you can transport.
- Tractor -
If you have one, keep it ready to go.
- Trailer
Hitch - If you have one on your vehicle,
make sure to test the wires for the lights.
- Utility
Trailer - There are covered and uncovered
trailers that can be of great use during an emergency.
- Wagon -
Yep, the kids' good old red wagon could come in
handy including everything from the garden to
evacuation.
- Wheelbarrow - This is a basic
form of transportation that can have many uses. If it has
pnuematic tires, keep them inflated.
Protection -
There are some forms of protection that need to be considered
as you prepare your Transportation needs.
- Combinations - Make sure you
have combinations for any pieces of Equipment shown
above that need them.
- Keys -
Make sure you have keys for any pieces of Equipment shown
above that need them.
- Insurance
Policies - Make sure you have adequate auto
insurance for each vehicle and that you, and your
loved ones know where they are kept.
Records - Just
like normal times, there will be certain records and paperwork
associated with Transportation that will need to be present
during an emergency. Consider the following:
- Passport
- Scan in a copy of each person's passport and keep them in
one of your kits. However, these will not work at the
border, so be sure you know where the originals are kept.
As of the summer of 2009, passports for everyone, even
children, are required to cross the US borders with Canada
and Mexico.
- Driver's
Licenses - Scan in a copy of each
driver's license and keep them in one of your kits. But you
will need originals for any identification purposes that
arise.
- Auto
Insurance - Keep policy numbers readily
available.
- Auto
Registration - Keeping these with the
vehicle (as required by law) is the best idea, then you
won't be without them.
- Auto
Title - Make sure you know where your auto
titles are kept. If you don't have a waterproof, fireproof
safe, consider getting a safe deposit box.
- Auto Maintenance
Records - Keep these current and
available.
Safety -
During an emergency, you may not have time to perform safety
checks or make repairs before you will need to evacuate. So,
during normal times, keep things current such as tires, brakes,
fluids and more. If you have a trailer, make sure its lighting
system works when connected to your vehicle. This may be extra
important if you are required to evacuate during a fire that
has reduced the visibility on the roadways. If they don't work,
at least tie some glowsticks on the trailer.
Travel
- During an emergency Travel can have a lot of obstacles.
To reduce the effects of these obstacles, consider the
following:
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