Carry heavy gloves in your car.  It is a good idea to carry heavy leather gloves in your car, in case you would ever need to change a tire or remove snow or ice from your car. There are many other times that these could come in handy, even for added warmth in the winter. To this I’d add a spare Goretex paiur for pure warmth and in case the leather heavy duty ones get soaked through.

Carry antibacterial gel in your car.  In order to stay clean, you might want to use - antibacterial gel, which is commonly available to wash your hands before eating, etc.  You can keep a small bottle in your glove compartment.

Stash duplicate credit cards, ATM cards, and extra checks somewhere accessible. In the event of a fire, or other disaster you may not have time to grab these things before you leave home.  However, keeping a spare set in a lock box at your office or the home of a friend will give you the added security of knowing that you can get anything that you might need.

Keep a set of clothes in a plastic container.  There are Rubbermaid containers with handles that would be perfect for storing a complete set of clothing for a four person family.  You should plan to have a complete set of clothing ready for each member of the household including boots or shoes and a jacket of some sort.  In the event of an emergency, you will not need to spend valuable time packing and searching for somewhere to store the clothing.

Keep cash stashed.  At a minimum, you should have $100 dollars in cash available at any given time.  Keep in mind that in an emergency you may not be able to use an ATM.  It is best to have several different denominations of bills from ones to twenties.  You should also have a roll of quarters on hand.

Get a power converter for your car.  Not only will this type of converter power your kids DVD player on long trips, but it can actually power any 120v appliance including a small television or radio.  In the event of an emergency you will be glad to have this option.

Carry a pocket knife.  With heightened security concerns, you can no longer carry a pocket knife in many locations, but whenever you are driving you should have one in the car with you.  The multipurpose type is best, and you will find that the tool will be a great help in many different situations.

Keep a crow bar in your home.  A crowbar is an important and extremely versatile tool to have on hand.  You can use it to break glass, to pry something open or to lift a heavy object using leverage.  The longer the better, in terms of size.

Remember your ABCs.  Fire extinguishers, that is.  A type ABS multipurpose fire extinguisher is the best option for home since it can be used for any fire. A five pound unit can stow away in the kitchen, but you might want to keep a larger unit in the home in case you need it. Check your fire extinguishers and replace as recommended.

Consider buying a police or weather radio. While these appliances can be costly, they can come in handy when you need to get access to emergency information in a hurry.  Generally, these range between one and several hundred dollars and require batteries for operation. Keep plenty of batteries on hand, as well as a list of frequencies that you might need to locate.