Getting stuck in traffic has become a regular occurence for many of us.

Any thoughts on traffic affecting your own disaster plans? related?

I regularly commute and many times go counter traffic, but I am still in traffic.

What kind of contingency plans have you people made or thought of to get home? to insure loved ones safety? etc?

Many times we even go through traffic that has no basis for traffic aside from people not knowing how to drive, driving and texting simutaneouslly, and other stupid acts.
The smallest accidents or a single fatality can wreak Havoc on Hawaii traffic. What are your plans when it does hit the fan in Hawaii whether from natural or man made occurences?

Accidents on Kunia, H3, Redhill, Nanakuli, etc are all choke points for roads. I really wish HPD would figure out a smoother and quicker investigation post traffic fatality. 

Do you keep a minimum amount of water in your vehicle? Weapons? Change of clothes? Shelter? Shoes? etc.

If cell phone services go down what kind of plans have you formulated? I'm considering 2way radios with a specific channel for loved ones.
ANY relevant thoughts for conversation welcome.

I think majority of people here in Hawaii never think of packing supplies in their vehicles. I for one never did until the bridge incident near Radford HS.

With all cars at a stand still with no where to go many were stuck for hours. No place to go bathroom and no water to drink made people miserable. I can only imagine those that were making the commute to the west side with an infant in the car. Packing some extras is a good thing.

Can anyone tell me how they store water? After being in the heat, plastic water bottles changes the flavor.

I think majority of people here in Hawaii never think of packing supplies in their vehicles. I for one never did until the bridge incident near Radford HS.

With all cars at a stand still with no where to go many were stuck for hours. No place to go bathroom and no water to drink made people miserable. I can only imagine those that were making the commute to the west side with an infant in the car. Packing some extras is a good thing.

Can anyone tell me how they store water? After being in the heat, plastic water bottles changes the flavor.

put your water bottles in a cooler with ice or other supplies in a cooler

I carry extra fluids for the vehicle in my tool box. Oil, coolant, brake fluid, wd40, power steering. As well as some recovery gear like jumper cables, tow strap, spare tire, d rings, a come along and assorted tools.

Personal stuff, I rock a 2g igloo water cooler at work and there's usually a little left at the end of the day.  If not I refill with water and ice before I leave work so I always have water in my car.  I also always keep a few sets of extra clothes in my car, at least 3 full pairs .  I always change clothes before driving home from work. I don't like to leave my dirty clothes on and I don't like to drive with my work boots on.  Also some days I forget were going on the boat instead so always nice to have clothes on the standby.

I always keep snacks in my work pack. Crackers, can vienna, ramen noodles, boiled egg, leftover lunch, something so I got food.

Essentially with the kinda work I do my gear can easily be swapped/used.

With communication, 2 way radios are usually line of sight mostly, but depends on the area you in.  Ham radios or cb are good options, just depends how invested you wanna get. You also need to remember you will need 2 of everything, one for car one for base camp, as well as teaching everyone to use it. I wouldn't even count my cellphone as an option.

I think, the best solution is not get stuck in traffic in the first place, if at all possible.  Check local traffic news before traveling, so you can avoid such scenarios, and best to wait it out until it dies down.

With communication, 2 way radios are usually line of sight mostly, but depends on the area you in.  Ham radios or cb are good options, just depends how invested you wanna get. You also need to remember you will need 2 of everything, one for car one for base camp, as well as teaching everyone to use it. I wouldn't even count my cellphone as an option.

I was going to suggest this as well. Legally you need to get an FCC license to use alot of this equipment. But not to buy it. So really, there is no enforcement there. A handheld used for "ham" radio would be a much better option than a simple "walkie talkie" But it is more complex, and more expensive.

Personally I keep just about anything I could possibly need in most situations in my vehicle. I am the type of person that does not rely on other people to help me. If I break down I don't call AAA I get my tools out and see what I can do to limp home. I have two seperate jacks, a pretty complete mechanics tool set, another bag with recovery gear. FIRE EXTINGUISHER (everyone should have this but rarely any do) Also have my "bug out bag" filled with all manner or things. Spare drivebelt, spare U joints... Flat tire repair kit. Portable compressor. you name it.. I have it.

My plan... 4wd  Move over soccer moms and morons with huge lifted trucks that would be pathetic off the road.

2 way radio?  your kidding right, why not just wait a few hours at max and go to the mall to wait it out?  If there is anything worst then that no amount of 2 way radios or extra car supplies is gonna save your ass from any type of real disaster as we are stranded in the middle of nowhere, 2000 miles from the closest help.  kiss your ass good bye if anything really were to happen!

ok, u got a bug out bag to get home, then what?  you think just cuz you got home means you are gonna beable to get food/water when there are over a million people on this little island which need what you may or may not have?  Keep telling yourself a bugout bag in Hawaii is gonna save your ass some how haha!

2 way radio?  your kidding right, why not just wait a few hours at max and go to the mall to wait it out?  If there is anything worst then that no amount of 2 way radios or extra car supplies is gonna save your ass from any type of real disaster as we are stranded in the middle of nowhere, 2000 miles from the closest help.  kiss your ass good bye if anything really were to happen!

ok, u got a bug out bag to get home, then what?  you think just cuz you got home means you are gonna beable to get food/water when there are over a million people on this little island which need what you may or may not have?   Keep telling yourself a bugout bag in Hawaii is gonna save your ass some how haha!

I don't think you understand what prepping is.  The idea is to plan ahead so you're not at the mall fighting joe schmoe for supplies or even worse, dependent on the government to feed you and care for you in the event of a disaster.   Telling people they are helpless and there is nothing they can do about it is perhaps the worst attitude to have-- especially when you know that's not true. 

Guess we'll have to leave sliver behind. 

He obviously doesn't know what the Island has to offer.

    Thankfully, when the power poles went down between Pounders and PCC, we were already at home but we sat and watched every one else hang out until the power line was shut down and they let folks leave their cars behind and walk past if they wanted.
Others took the Loooooong way home.
Bottom line is the road was closed for 24 hrs., not a few hours and there was no mall insite !

     As I have a truck with no box, I’m pretty limited but fortunately I am rarely more than 7 miles from home and not as prepared vehicle wise as BassMonkey though I would like to be. Still, I keep several bottles of water in the vehicle which get consumed and rotated almost daily. I reuse the bottles a couple of times before recycling them.
   As Haoleb says “FCC requires license to OPERATE the best com units, but if SHTF and cell phones go out, I think there will be bigger fish to fry.
Actually, if it wasn’t for a lot of the illegal ham operators in Kauai, help after Iniki would not have been as good as it was !
p.s
If you keep a short length of slit fuel line and small hose clamps, you can temporarily repair most fuel, vacuum or brake line.
For radiator hoses, larger hose clamps and 6-8 inches of PVC that fits inside your hose does the trick.
 

    Thankfully, when the power poles went down between Pounders and PCC, we were already at home but we sat and watched every one else hang out until the power line was shut down and they let folks leave their cars behind and walk past if they wanted.
Others took the Loooooong way home.
Bottom line is the road was closed for 24 hrs., not a few hours and there was no mall insite !

     As I have a truck with no box, I’m pretty limited but fortunately I am rarely more than 7 miles from home and not as prepared vehicle wise as BassMonkey though I would like to be. Still, I keep several bottles of water in the vehicle which get consumed and rotated almost daily. I reuse the bottles a couple of times before recycling them.
   As Haoleb says “FCC requires license to OPERATE the best com units, but if SHTF and cell phones go out, I think there will be bigger fish to fry.
Actually, if it wasn’t for a lot of the illegal ham operators in Kauai, help after Iniki would not have been as good as it was !
p.s
If you keep a short length of slit fuel line and small hose clamps, you can temporarily repair most fuel, vacuum or brake line.
For radiator hoses, larger hose clamps and 6-8 inches of PVC that fits inside your hose does the trick.

You stick the pvc into the broken area of hose and reattach?  Neat trick.
What you saying about the fuel line?  slice it, attach outside over the leaking area and clamp it?  Some neat tricks

You stick the pvc into the broken area of hose and reattach?  Neat trick.

What you saying about the fuel line?  slice it, attach outside over the leaking area and clamp it?  Some neat tricks

Cut the hose where leaking, slide PVC inside and hose clamp both ends.

Slice the short length of fuel line down the side, place over puka in hose / line and clamp hose over puka.
Worked for brake line off of anti-lock cylinder and hydraulic clutch line already so "can handle da presha".

Mean I'll remember those tricks. Thanks

I always have a light medical kit after being sliced up by surfboard fins a few times. It would really suck trying to control bleeding with a t-shirt or a towel while waiting for an ambulance to take the long way around.

My truck inventory sounded kinda weak with just it's bottles of water so I thought I would divulge the rest of my inept vehicle preparedness.
SOS food bars.
US Coast Guard approved and have a shelf life of 5 years from the date of manufacture and can withstand temperatures from -22°F to 149°F.
Non-thirst provoking formula offers maximum survival capacity with drinking water restriction under all environmental conditions.
The fruit ones have 200 cal each and best of all, their edible.
See my post at survival for more info.
Of course flash light, bic lighter, additional knife, flares, FOX whistle, latex gloves, apirin, Mouth to mouth barrier (if you have a loved one should know CPR) and a couple of field dressings.
With this I can assist in a heart attack, safely perform CPR or dress a decent wound, start a fire, signal for help, travel in the dark and eat and drink fro a day and a half.