Of course you should have an emergency kit at home and for the road. What you don’t often hear about is having a non-emergency kit, which you’re far more likely to need. 

What is a non-emergency kit?

Well, it covers you in the case of something that’s not an emergency but could still derail your day. If you’re driving more than 45 minutes one way it pays dividends to have contingencies in place for unfortunate events. Non-emergencies are not a flat tire but stained pants, not a medical episode but a closed road. Any of these non-emergencies, on net, won’t cause you major grief. However, if you’re able to get around them (and by following the advice written here you will) you’ll demonstrate how effective and put-together you are. This is especially handy if you’re carpooling because you’ll save not one but two travelers.

1. Poncho/rain gear – If you wind up outside you’ll want to be able to stay dry. An umbrella isn’t going to cut it. What you’ll need is a full body poncho or rain gear. High-viz is a bonus if you’re still on the road.  
2. Shoe covers – Like rain gear, if you have shoes you’d like to keep in nice shape it’s imperative that you have something to shield them. Any rain or mud you’ll encounter in a non-emergency but still very unpleasant. Something as simple as these will keep water from seeping into your shoes. They’ll keep you shoes looking nice if you do end up stuck outside you car. 
3. Pre-loaded credit card– everyone talks about having cash on hand for an emergency. For instance if your debit card can’t be replaced because of the chip shortage. It pays to be able to buy someone a coffee or fuel up your car anytime.
4. Phone charger/portable battery – It’s a non-emergency if your phone goes dead but it’s very inconvenient. To keep yourself connected consider purchasing a portable power bank and keeping it charged for your commute. You could use a car charger, however, the flexibility of keeping your phone charging in your bag is awesome. 
5. Battery powered fan – Not having AC or a blower motor not working is a non-emergency but it feels great to have a substitute. A small fan that can be charged or powered by your car is helpful when you’re overheating. Also, when your windshield is fogging up and you need to circulate air to dry it out.
6. Extra sunglasses – If you wear glasses you know it’s pointless to wear non-prescription sunglasses. Sunglasses are easily lost. That’s why it’s necesssary to have affordable fit-over sunglasses on hand. These sunglasses are perfect for not having prescription lenses. Remember: sunglasses aren’t just nice to have in the summertime. Sunglasses are critical in the winter when snow-blindness can be a real problem.
7. Floss/toothbrush/toothpaste – It’s a non-emergency if your breath isn’t perfect or you have something stuck in your teeth. It’s also a liability to meet someone that can’t get past the broccoli sprig in there. Plackers are a great option and this new Brushee product looks promising
8. The phone number for the place you’re headed – You must have the phone number for your contact available when you’re headed somewhere new. This goes for your family and yourself. When a non-emergency, like traffic or weather happens you can reach out to someone and be on the same page.
9. Reusable shopping bag – You will look like a fool if you have things to carry and you can’t manage them. How many times have you had to bring multiple things from a car to a building? Either your hands completely full and you couldn’t use the door or you had to make multiple trips. Really, all you had to do was to have an extra bag to put these things in. These hard bottom bags will give you the support you need for something that isn’t stable on its own.
10. Underwear/Socks – Finally, Look, I don’t want to get into what could happen that would cause you to need replacements here. It may be more severe than a non-emergency. If you need these the last thing you’ll want to do is find a store, waddle into it, buy these, waddle to a bathroom and humble yourself like you never have before. The less said the better. If you’re a man I can’t recommend these underwear or these socks enough.