WASHINGTON — Of all the things you have to remember when packing the car up for holiday travel, there’s one important item that’s easy to overlook: an emergency kit.

“Items such as blankets, jumper cables, shovels, first aid kits, extra clothing and of course some extra food,” says Cheryl Kravitz, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area.

Kravitz says emergencies happen even in good weather — the car breaks down, traffic jams — and the best bet is to be prepared.

“We also want to make sure that if you are traveling, people know where you’re going and the expected time of arrival, so that if you’re not there right away, they know how to reach you,” she says. “And please, please keep those cell phones charged.”

It’s especially important to have these items on Sunday, Kravitz says, when a lot of travel stops will be closed for the holiday.

WTOP’s Hank Silverberg contributed to this report. Follow Hank Silverberg and WTOP on Twitter.

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