ROANOKE, Va. – On Tuesday, those across Southwest Virginia, including Hannah Stuber and her four children, woke up to freezing temperatures.
“It doesn’t normally get this cold until mid- to late-December. I thought it was just supposed to rain today, and then we walked out to flurries and it is very blustery, so I stole my husband’s jacket," said Stuber, who lives in Salem.
In case she ever runs into an emergency on the road in the winter, Stuber said she always keeps a few things handy in her car.
“Extra blankets. We keep a change of clothes, ice scraper,” Stuber said.
That was a lesson the mother and former EMT learned from experience.
“In January, a couple of years ago, the alternator went in my car and I was three hours from home with the newborn," Stuber said. "So, thankfully, I had blankets and was able to wrap the baby up and stay warm that way until a friend could get there with the tow truck.”
Robert Young’s Auto & Truck’s office manager, Beth Davis, said once winter hits, their towing calls triple. That’s why she said now is the time to prepare.
“Gloves and a blanket, snacks and a flashlight and absolutely water," Davis said. "I just keep a whole case of water in my car.”
The Virginia Department of Transportation recommends you keep these items in your car:
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Ice scraper
- Cell phone and charger
- Jumper cables
- Blankets or quilts
- First aid kit
- Bottled water
- Non-perishable food (nuts, energy bars)
- Abrasive material for traction (cat litter, sand)
- Shovel
VDOT also says drivers should check:
- Brakes and tires
- Battery and ignition system
- Antifreeze and thermostat
- Windshield wipers and de-icing washer fluid
- Headlights, tail and brake lights, blinkers and emergency flashers
- Exhaust system, heater and defroster
- Oil
“Try to prepare for the unexpected because when you’re not expecting it, is when it’s going to happen," Stuber said.