24.3 Prepare the vehicles (before the emergency)

Maintenance that matters in an evacuation

• Tires at the correct pressure (the one on the label in the driver's door frame), with enough tread, and an inflated spare tire.
• Jack and lug wrench complete; you know how to use them.
• Battery under 3 to 5 years old or tested at an auto parts store (extreme heat wears them out).
• Air conditioning working: in summer, without A/C, the car is an oven with your whole family and your pets inside.
• Coolant, oil, and brake fluid at the right level; belts and hoses without cracks.
• Windshield wipers and washer fluid (rain, dust, ash).
• USB chargers working in all cars. Roadside assistance (insurance or auto club) with the number on paper.

Fuel: the halfway rule

Keep the tanks of all your cars above half at all times (chapters 2 and 9). If there is a threat, fill them now. In an evacuation, pumps can run out of gasoline or lose power to pump. Ready.gov suggests using a gas station app to see which ones have fuel along your route.

Car kit

Each car carries its own kit (chapter 2, section 2.7): water, food, first-aid kit, blanket, flashlight, jumper cables, charger, reflective triangle, and a paper map. For evacuation, add the water and food for the trip for people and pets (section 24.4).