The snow has already begun flying in some states. While this time of year tends to be a big headache for auto insurance companies with the abundant accidents that happen, drivers have a lot to be concerned with as well. Not only do you have to worry about road conditions and how to safely proceed on your commute, but also what do you do when disaster strikes?

Now is a great time to not only talk with your auto insurance agent about your coverages and how to handle an emergency situation, but you should also stock your car with a few emergency items. These items are the things that you will need to turn to in the unfortunate event of a disaster.

Just a few of the most important items you can keep in your car this winter are:

Blankets – Now you don’t need your finest comforter rolling around in your trunk, but a good warm blanket or two are very important. You can wrap up in a blanket in the event that your car stalls, or you end up in a situation where you have no heat. Hypothermia can kill you, so keeping your body temperature up will keep you from having to deal with a hospital bill on top of your auto insurance claims.

Food – Keep some dry food in a container somewhere in your car. Items like granola, cereal, candy bars, protein bars, and even chips will work here. Getting into an accident can be very stressful. While your auto insurance agent maybe quick to respond to your issue, emergency staff has to fight through the same cruddy weather that caused you to get into your current situation. There maybe times the road is shutdown and you have to camp out in your car overnight. This food will be your source of energy and hunger squashing during these times.

Salt/Cat Litter/Small Shovel – Sometimes all you just slide off the road and have no need to call your auto insurance agent to send a tow truck. There are times all you need is a bit of traction to get back on the road. Pack a shovel so you can dig your car out of a ditch. Salt is handy for melting ice and snow. Cat liter (the clay kind) works great for giving you the extra traction you may need to get out.

10,000# Tow Strap – When the cat litter, shovel, and salt fail to get you out of the ditch, a tow strap can become a life saving device. There are good people out there that maybe willing to help you out. Having your own tow strap on hand makes it that much easier for a passerby to help pull you out of the ditch.

Updated Auto Insurance Card – In the event that disaster strikes, one of the very first people you inevitably call is your auto insurance agent. Cops will also ask you for proof of insurance as part of their regular routine. This is no time to have expired or old insurance cards in your glove box. Make sure that auto insurance card is current. You will also want to make sure you have current contact info for your auto insurance agent. Calling a number long expired only makes life that much more miserable for you.