El Nino Emergency kit

With the possibility for and El Nino winter do you have an emergency kit in your truck. If so, what? I live in Big Sur where we can have major mud slides and road closures so my kit can be a bit extensive at times. I'm looking for ideas or items others keep in their kit that I might be able to add to mine. I keep tools and high-lift jack in my truck at all times.
1. first aid kit
2. flares
3. axe
4. shovel
5. tow straps
6. chains
7. reflective vest
8. full rain gear
9. extra clothes
10. extra water
11. extra food
12. blanket
13.flashlight
14. lighter
15. maxtrax

 

I can well understand having that equipment and supply's on board if your are leaving you area but would be much better stored in the garage and not pay the fuel penalty if you are just going to the Mall.

 

Can't imagine his fuel economy is going to drop very significantly... sounds like you're pretty set there OP, can't think of anything else off the top of my head.

 

I agree that he may include some overkill items to carry around everyday, but it's not like his fuel economy is going to drop 5 mpg. It wouldn't be any worse than a tool box in the bed.

 

If you have ever lived in the mountains you understand you may not be able to make it home.

 

PLB would be my first thought. That and comms.

 

In addition to a bunch of other stuff I keep duct tape and paracord in my truck. Pretty generic items that can be used in a bunch of different applications.

 

Our Provincial government suggests all BC residents have an earthquake / emergency preparedness kit , here's what they suggest for contents

http://www.pss.gov.bc.ca/pdc/safety-emergency-response-kits-home.html

 

yeah, iono about that emergency kit for homes. water rations? who does that? just get one of these.



as far as vehicles, the rations, 3600 calories isn't enough if you're gonna be out there for a week in snow. need something like 5000 calories a day. I'd probably pack my biolite stove, thermos, flint steel, space blanket, snow shoes, 33liter backpacking backpack, a stainless pot, a bunch of dehydrated food, gloves, shovel, hatchet, snow pants, snowboarding jacket, boots, a knife, sleeping bag.

Reality is, I don't ackshually get myself into situations like that alone. So besides, TP, I don't bring anything else.

 

If you have no water how do you fill that thing ? That makes zero sense

 

with residual pressure of course. in a disaster you would fill it up with that. in the winter you would do that before your pipes freeze. generally utilities that fail are electricity, not gas or water because they're not as easily affected by weather since they're generally underground. anyway, I have 55 gal drums, a water heater, and several toilet tanks full of water.

if a water main breaks, well that sucks, but if it's a widely affect area they'd truck in water to your location. either way you've got whatever is in your fridge to hold you over until the water truck shows up.

 

Back in 1997-98 when we had a horrible El Nino year Highway 1 was closed for over a year. 3/4 of a mountain slid into the Pacific taking Highway 1 with it. A trip to (town) usually takes about 45mins to an hour. When the road disappeared it took 4 hours. Living in Big Sur means you may find yourself separated from your home for days or weeks if your road disappears. Last December one rain storm sent over 4 ft of mud into Sycamore Canyon. This meant I had to find another way to work. Luckily there was an alternative way in/out. This is not always the case.

 

Lots of wells where I am so no power = no water

 

https://youtu.be/IvmeUStFvz8

 

Same where I grew up. Finally last week after45 years of living there my parents got a generator that will run their well pump. Nothing says fun like going out in a crazy storm to get a bucket of water from the swimming pool to flush a toilet.

 

If you have a well, then you already have potable water. Should already have a manual pump along with an electrical pump. If you're expecting service cuts in inclement weather you should have a generator or battery backup of some sort. Also if you have a well, shouldn't you have a 1300+ liter polyethylene tank on prem?

at any rate, let's get back to the original discussion, this is about what to carry in a truck to get yourself out of a pickle!

 

We have 15K gallons of stored water for AG and fire suppression, 10K potable water with a 16Kw generator fueled by 500 gal. propane tank. Most of our potable water is gravity fed. Power outages are a normal occurrence in the rainy season. Trouble arrises when you are away from the homestead. I have all I need at home, and try to be prepared when I am away. You never know when the road between work and home is no longer there.

 

What's a mall? I live about 30 miles from the nearest bank, grocery store. My road is about 3 miles of switchback dirt