KEEP GAS IN THE TANK
I say this less as a pessimist and more as someone who attempts to be prepared for problematic situations, but you never know when you might need to get you and your family to safety. I’ve lived in the South through tornadoes and hurricanes, in New York during the Blackout and big blizzards, in Los Angeles through Earthquakes and fire season, and now in Washington State, right next door to a giant volcano.
One of the easiest ways to prepare for emergencies is to make sure your car’s gas tank never goes below half-full. (See? Optimism. I could have said half-empty.) It’s a pretty simple habit to make. Every time you see a gas station, check the gauge. If you see you’re below half, fill up.
This gives you a better chance of getting away if your current location is no longer safe or you need to get somewhere fast. It doesn’t even have to be a wide-scale emergency. If someone in your household needs to get to the hospital, you may not always have time to stop at Chevron on the way if your gas light kicks on. (Those with babies due any day be advised.)
For electric cars, try to make sure you’re charged up as much as possible, but in your case, you’re probably already very adept at this practice as electric car owners often have to plan around limited distance travel. (If you’re in the market for a new car, invest in the future and buy electric.)
If you have the capability, keep some cans of gas at home full and ready to go if you need them as well. Ethanol-free gas takes longer to break down, but you can always add some stabilizer to your stored fuel if you expect it to sit for a while.
For those of you who wouldn’t need to out-drive the ash clouds from a volcano or other natural disaster, the practice of keeping your tank over half-full is still a good idea. You never know when the need to stop for gas makes you just late enough to miss something important like a job interview or the first time you meet your girlfriend’s parents. Try to fill up (or charge up) in the down times when you’re not pressed for time.
You already know you should have enough food and water on hand in case of emergency. Keeping gas in the tank is for when that emergency means the need to get you and your family to safety. Remember: gas stations don’t work if the power’s out. Do it now while you can.
