Yakima Valley Drivers Have a Secret Roadside Survival Kit — And You Probably Do Too

Are you a true Yakima Valley local? Then you probably already have at least one of these in your car. I'm talking about things besides water, reusable grocery bags, and some snacks!

If you guessed a blanket as the #1 item found in practically everybody's car then you got it right. Carrying a spare blanket in your car makes you one of us! Welcome to la familia!

What You'll Find in Practically Every Yakima Valley's Car Roadside Kit

Having a blanket in the car is part of our survival culture out here in the Valley.

• We might get stuck in terrible traffic going over the passes--we'll need a blanket for that.
• Some of us keep a blanket in the car just in case we need to be ready for a spontaneous picnic. Please pass the charcuterie plates, Taco Bell napkins from the glove compartment, and bring a couple of Stanley cups, thank you!
• Blankets are also handy in case you need to rescue a lost animal off the side of the road.

I'm sure I have several blankets in my car by now, including an old "no-sew fleece tie blanket" with a Girl Scouts Cookies logo design all over it. I keep it there in case my daughter gets cold. In my back seat I also keep a yellow, black, and grey Mexican blanket (a cool swag bag gift from last year's Taco Fest).

Read More: 9 Everyday Things That Will Freeze in Your Car in Yakima Valley

Are Yakima Valley drivers always expecting the worst, thereby making blankets something we need to keep in our cars? Probably. We're built "Ford tough!" How many blankets do you have in your ride?