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| My Get-Home Bag (GHB) - shown in front but I usually wear it on my back |
Today started like any other day. The sky was clear, and the roads were good, but the humidity was brutal. I have a 1-hour commute to work through rural areas and across state lines. I was about 40 minutes into my drive when Google Maps routed me to take an unusual exit. I know my way to work but always run Google maps in case anything changes and today there was a flood warning due to thunderstorms the night before, so I trusted it.
I'm glad I did. Google directed me to a side road to bypass a flooded roadway however, there would still be a 40+ minute traffic jam. Even with the alternative route, the traffic was slow, and fellow commuters were impatient. Some tried crossing over to the frontage roads but ended up stranded in mud so deep they couldn't even exit their vehicles. So I decided to just take it easy, crank up my music, and not stress.
Suddenly, while in stop-and-go traffic, my engine sputtered. The engine light came on and it struggled to accelerate. I turned off the radio and AC to listen, and it was clearly having issues. Since I was about to enter a two-lane construction zone with no shoulder, I pulled over. Then more warning lights appeared, and it stopped running.
So, there I was, stranded just outside a construction zone with the service road closed and miles of traffic around me. I knew it would take forever for my husband or a tow truck to reach me and I just couldn't sit there for hours. I checked the map and saw a high school down the road. If I walked there, then I thought my husband might be able to drive some back roads to get there and pick me up. The school was the only building in the area, with no other businesses for miles, and it was about a 10-minute walk away. So, I grabbed my cross-body purse and the get-home bag I leave in my car. I had to walk up the highway, cross a large muddy ditch in my business clothes [I'm sure the onlookers were amused] and backtrack down the closed service road to hike to the school.
There was a young lady sitting outside the high school when I walked up asking if I could use the restroom. She agreed but informed me they were in a power outage! Ha, of course they were. Luckily, I had a flashlight in my bag. I walked down a dark hallway, fitting for a horror movie, to find the restroom. I also had a battery backup for my phone, water, and a small battery-powered fan, which was quite a lifesaver as it got very warm in the building but was too humid outside to wait for my husband.
As a mini prepper, I never knew if I'd truly need my GHB but today I was so grateful to have it! This all worked brilliantly. I was prepared and didn't have to just sit in my car helpless.
In the photograph above of my bag, you’ll notice a couple of things. First, my bag is a small cross-body sling. Because I also carry a purse, a smaller bag forces me to be selective and not overload myself in case I need to abandon my car--like today. Most GHB's you'll see people suggest are simply too cumbersome. Additionally, this bag seems less "survivalist," allowing me to blend in better if I had issues in an urban environment. By the way, this is the same bag I grab during tornado warnings, so it serves multiple purposes.
What happened to me today is why I encourage contingency planning! Make a get-home bag for your car. It's not just something alarmists talk about on YouTube; it’s practical. Here’s what I have in mine:
- Flashlight
- Knife, section of paracord
- Change of clothes; including socks
- First aid kit
- Hand sanitizer; mask
- Battery-powered fan
- Thermos of water
- Hat; trinket box of essentials
- Battery power bank
- Spare pair of eyeglasses
- My medication
- Mylar blankets; Hand warmers (so I don't have to update it in the winter)
- Work gloves
I hope this convinces you that being prepared makes a huge difference. Don’t wait for an emergency to get ready. Make your GHB today!