Let me try to sneak up on this challenge.

Central California is experiencing ithe first severe winter storm of winter: heavy wind, heavy rain, and major temperature drops. If I were canoeing and went in with just what is in my pockets and PFD vest, far from other help, I think I can put myself conceptually in Canoedogs' place.

I would want to stoke my internal "fire" immediately by consuming some very high energy and easy to digest food source, like a cyclists gel packs of goo. I would want to shelter from the chilling effects of rain and wind in something like a heatsheet or other space age blanket / poncho. I would want to start some self-heating food packs "cooking." And then I would want to use no-fail starters [gel, tabs, whatever] to create a large heat source to dry and warm myself - a fire. Once I had a fire going I would want to slow down, eat, and think through my situation.

No role for a small cook stove in the scenario to this point.

Otherwise, if I have my drybags and packs, I am just camping out and have no need for a cook stove in my pfd/vest.

Have I missed something?