You know how there are always “those people” who tell you that it’s a good idea to have a car emergency kit onboard? The thing is, they’re right. There are carefully designed kits out there to help protect you and provide convenience, should you need them. Since no one is capable of predicting emergencies, knowing that you’ve got yourself covered is going to be crucial as a responsible car owner.
Emergencies & Kits
Regular emergencies
Since cars rarely break down in your driveway or in a garage, you’ll need to be prepared for breakdowns when you’re out and about. Some of the most crucial things to have on-hand will be jumper cables (either to connect to someone else’s car or self-powered ones), a tire pressure gauge, a tire inflator and patch kit, and reflectors.
Some emergencies require flashlights, rations such as granola bars or water and then of course first aid and medical needs/kits. All of these should be replaced regularly so that they stay current and your goods aren't expired or melted, because after all, this IS Texas. Speaking of that, you may want to have a cheap rain poncho since doing any of the above out in the Texas pouring rain would be worse!
Even for normal outings, these situations can get hairy pretty quickly. You might want to consider adding roadside assistance to your insurance policy if you’re especially worried about it. A lot of them already cover it so be sure to check with your insurance agent to see what exactly is covered should something occur.
Road trip emergencies
If you’re on a road trip, you’ll automatically need to make sure that your emergency kit is ready for situations where you’re stranded further away from home than you intended. Around the city, help is mostly a phone call away. But, on the road, it may take a little longer! Or should you be out in the middle of nowhere.
You’ll want to consider something like roadside assistance. This is an extra policy add-on that you can chat with your insurance agent about. It’ll give you support on everything from a dead battery that needs a jump, to a spare tire, and so on. Again, be sure to check with us as each policy is a little different.
In the worst-case scenario, where you possibly may have to wait for a bit until help comes, you’ll want to have flares set up outside your car, water and snacks (as above), and also a blanket in case it starts to cool off, or more rain gear for worse weather. This is especially so if your situation is something like accidentally running out of gas or a fried car battery that makes it so that your car won’t turn on to keep you warm, cool or dry!
Bonus emergencies tips
If you live in a hurricane or storm-prone area, you know, most of the Galveston and Harris County areas, you’ll want to consider the concept of having a DIY storm preparation kit in there, too, so that you can simply hop in the car and evacuate fully prepared if you need to. Or, if you get caught in a storm and need to wait it out until you can get back home or wherever it is that you’re going.
Again, emergencies of any kind -- weather- or car-related -- don’t exactly announce themselves, so you’ll need to think seriously about the idea of making sure that you’re always protected with the right combination of a true emergency kit, and something like roadside assistance!
There’s nothing worse than being caught unprepared, so these tips will help you make sure that you’ve got everything you need to keep yourself and your loved ones protected, safe, and equipped in case of an emergency.
While we can't prepare you with an emergency kit based on your needs, we can and will encourage you to do so and reach out should you have any questions about any roadside assistance on your vehicle insurance plan. Contact Harbour Insurance Services at (281) 520-4090 with any questions.