Quick answer
Build for warmth, visibility, communication, traction, and basic first aid—not just mechanical repairs.
What to do
- Pack warm layers, blankets, water, shelf-stable food, necessary medicine, and a first-aid kit.
- Add a charged phone battery, flashlight, warning devices, scraper, brush, shovel, and abrasive material.
- Inspect the kit each fall and replace expired, wet, discharged, or missing items.
A useful kit matches the passengers and trips you actually take. Families may need child supplies; commuters may need footwear and medication; longer trips may require more water and warmth.
NHTSA and Ready.gov both recommend winter supplies, but a kit does not make unsafe travel safe. Check conditions before departure and postpone nonessential travel when authorities advise it.
Official sources
Conditions, laws, parking rules, addresses, and agency procedures can change. Check the linked official source before acting.
Editorial note: this guide was checked against the cited public sources. The representative image does not document a specific JKS Towing call, operator, or vehicle.