How to Turn Your Car into an Emergency Shelter

When disaster strikes, your car can become far more than transportation—it can be a lifesaving emergency shelter. Whether you’re stranded in a winter storm, stuck during a wildfire evacuation, dealing with an earthquake aftermath, or facing extreme heat, knowing how to safely shelter in your vehicle can make all the difference.

At Ready & Prepped, we believe preparedness doesn’t require fancy gear or expensive setups—just smart planning and practical skills. Let’s walk through how to turn your car into a temporary emergency shelter, safely and effectively.

When Might You Need to Shelter in Your Car?

Your vehicle may become your best option if:

• Roads are impassable due to snow, flooding, or debris
• You’re evacuated and shelters are full
• Power outages leave your home unsafe or unheated
• You’re stranded in extreme heat or cold
• Aftershocks or structural damage make buildings unsafe

In many emergencies, staying with your vehicle is safer than leaving it—especially in remote areas or severe weather.

Step 1: Choose the Safest Possible Location

If you’re able to move your vehicle:

• Pull as far off the road as possible
• Avoid flood-prone areas, dry riverbeds, and steep slopes
• In heat, park in shade if available
• In winter, ensure your tailpipe is clear of snow

If you must stay where you are, turn on hazard lights and make your vehicle visible with reflective gear or emergency triangles.

Step 2: Insulate and Stay Comfortable

Your car is not well-insulated on its own, so layering and heat retention are critical.

Cold Weather Tips:

• Wear layers, hats, and gloves—even inside the car
• Use blankets, sleeping bags, coats, or emergency bivvies
• Sit on extra clothing or floor mats to reduce heat loss
• Crack a window slightly to reduce condensation

Hot Weather Warning:

Using a car as shelter in hot weather can be deadly—especially for children, babies, and pets.

Even with the windows partially open, temperatures inside a parked vehicle can rise to dangerous levels in minutes. Cracking windows does not make a car safe in the heat.

Children overheat much faster than adults, and heat illness can become fatal before warning signs are obvious. Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle for any length of time, and do not rely on shade, airflow, or short durations to reduce risk.

In hot weather, a vehicle should only be used as shelter if:

• You can maintain adequate ventilation and temperature regulation and
• You are actively monitoring everyone inside and
• No safer alternative is available

If temperatures are rising and conditions become unsafe, exit the vehicle immediately and seek a cooler, shaded, or air-conditioned location.

Heat emergencies escalate quickly. When in doubt, get out.

 

Step 3: Use Your Engine Safely (If Needed)

Running your engine can provide heat or cooling—but it must be done carefully.

• Only run the engine 10–15 minutes per hour
• Always ensure the exhaust pipe is completely clear
• Crack a window for ventilation
• Never sleep with the engine running

Carbon monoxide is odorless and deadly—this step is non-negotiable.

 

Step 4: Create Privacy and Protection

Privacy improves safety, warmth, and peace of mind.

• Use towels, blankets, or reflectix panels to cover windows
• Hang items using grab handles or headrests
• Keep doors locked, especially at night

This also helps regulate temperature and reduce stress.

 

Step 5: Access Your Emergency Car Kit

A well-stocked car emergency kit makes sheltering much safer. Ideally, your kit includes:

• Water (rotate seasonally)
• High-calorie snacks
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Phone charger or power bank
• First aid kit
• Emergency whistle
• Gloves and extra socks
• Paper maps

If you live in a cold climate, also include:

• Ice scraper
• Traction aids
• Small shovel
• Hand warmers

For more information about emergency car preparedness and kits, check out this article.

 

Step 6: Manage Food and Water Wisely

• Eat small amounts regularly to maintain energy
• Avoid eating snow—it lowers body temperature
• Melt snow first if absolutely necessary
• Drink even if you don’t feel thirsty

Dehydration and low energy can worsen decision-making during emergencies.

 

Step 7: Stay Calm, Informed, and Visible

• Conserve phone battery; use low-power mode
• Listen to emergency alerts or radio updates
• Use hazard lights sparingly to preserve your battery
• Display a bright cloth or emergency marker if help may be needed

Your car is easier for rescuers to spot than a person on foot.

 

Step 8: Know When to Stay vs. Go

Stay with your vehicle if:

• Visibility is low
• Weather is severe
• You’re unsure of your surroundings

Leave only if:

• You know exactly where you’re going
• Help is clearly within walking distance
• Staying puts you in immediate danger (flooding, fire, etc.)

When in doubt, stay put.

 

Final Thoughts

Your car is one of the most overlooked preparedness tools you already own. With a little planning and the right mindset, it can become a safe, temporary shelter when you need it most.

Preparedness isn’t about fear—it’s about confidence. And knowing how to turn your car into an emergency shelter is one more way to protect yourself and the people you love.

If you haven’t already, take time this week to:

• Build or update your car emergency kit
• Practice accessing items quickly
• Talk with your family about what to do if you’re stranded

Small steps today make emergencies far more manageable tomorrow.

 

Other Articles of Interest

Best Vehicles for Emergency Preparedness: What You Should Know

How to Plan an Effective Evacuation Route

How to Survive if You are Stranded in Your Car During a Disaster