Here Comes the Rain Again

By TIG on October 17, 2017 in Resources

Time to get ready for inclement weather.

With the return of the rain for those of us in the Pacific Northwest, it’s definitely time to start prepping your vehicles (work and personal!) for severe weather. Although, as we saw this summer, it’s good to be prepared year round.

Two BIG things to take care of?

Vehicle maintenance and emergency kit(s).

Be kind to your wheeled friend:

Windshield wipers – Are they still working?
Windshield wiper fluid – Switch to a winter-grade.
Engine coolant and antifreeze – Top it off!
Headlights, tail lights and marker lights – All working?
Seasonal tires – New/rotated, especially if you get a lot of snow. Check the pressure.
Tire chains – Do they fit?
Battery – Need a new one? Terminals all clean?
Oil – Switch to a winter-grade at your next oil change.

So, how about that emergency kit:

First aid kit
Radio (NOAA, there’s even wind up ones that can charge your phone)
Extra gas – I should’ve done this more in college.
Jumper cables – Always.
Flares – Great for storms where you can’t see 5 ft in front of you. Or dance parties.
Warm garments and blankets
Drinkable water
Flashlight, extra batteries
Space blanket – Cheap, very useful.
Bag of abrasive materials (sand, cat litter) – Yes, cat litter.
Phone charger/extra battery – Plug in some emergency numbers on your phone too.
Non-perishable food – Always important.
Music/games – Ever spent a night in your car? Yeah, it gets boring.