Severe Weather and You!
05-02-2016
Author: in RV Full-Time with Us
Is it just me or does it seem like severe weather is happening more frequently and is more wide spread? Almost every day you hear of a tornado touching down or severe thunderstorms devastating an area. As RVers you may be moving around a lot which actually increases your chances of being caught in one of these bad storms. So what can you do to prepare for severe weather or tornados? That is what we are going to talk about today. I’d like to take a little time and give you some tips on what you can do to better prepare for one of these situations.
Be Vigilant and be Prepared
Since it’s spring, severe thunderstorms are not uncommon on a daily basis, especially in the mid-west and southeast. Paying attention to the areas that you are going to be traveling in is a crucial step in being prepared for severe weather. This time of year, Vicki and I have a general ritual every morning, we enjoy our morning coffee and watch the weather channel. When it’s coming up on our travel days, we make sure we know what the forecast is for the areas we are going to be traveling through. On more than one occasion we have had to adjust when we leave an area just to make sure we are not on the road when severe weather hits. A good example is back in March, we were in Springfield Missouri, working a trade show. The trade show was wrapping up late Sunday afternoon and we had plans of leaving on Monday morning. On Sunday morning they started forecasting extremely bad weather including the possibility of tornados along our entire route back to Texas. We made the decision to pack up after the trade show and go ahead and drive all night to avoid the weather. We were very glad we did, Severe thunder storms and tornados popped up all along our route. It would not have made for a very enjoyable drive if we had gone with the original plan.
Sometimes being caught in severe weather is unavoidable. So, what should you do if you do get caught in it? First and foremost, I want you to understand that it does not matter if you’re parked or driving down the road, the last place you want to be is INSIDE YOUR RV! Your RV gives you very little protection in the event of a tornado. If you are traveling and severe weather threatens you should try to get off the highway and find a sturdy building to take shelter in.
If you are going to be staying in an area that is prone to severe weather and tornados, then when you check into the park, ask the managers if they have a storm shelter. Find out where they recommend you go in the event of severe weather. Most bathrooms at RV parks are made of brick or cinderblock and have little or no windows, this is a great place to find shelter in. Go to the middle of the bathroom and stay low to the ground till the storm passes.
Bugout Bag – Do you need one, and what should be in it?
What is a bugout bag? A bugout bag is something that is overlooked by most individuals but it’s essential to have one and to have it ready BEFORE a disaster strikes. A bugout bag is a backpack or duffel bag that is basically your 72-hour survival kit. You put items in it to help you in the event that a disaster strikes. You want this to be in a location in your RV that you can grab quickly and easily without having to dig for it. Please don’t wait till the threat is coming to get it ready. Put one together and you can rotate items out of it throughout the year so it’s always ready at a moment’s notice. So what should be in your Bugout Bag? You can create one bag for both you and your spouse or have (2) separate bags (1) for each.
Apps to help you stay safe!
There are a number of Apps available to help keep you informed of impending bad weather. If you are traveling you want to have one that will use your GPS location to alert you to the possibility of severe weather. Two apps that we use is “Simple Weather Alert” and “The Weather Channel”. There are a number of different apps available, just find one that you like and will work for your situation.
Till Next Time, Safe Travels!
Be Vigilant and be Prepared
Since it’s spring, severe thunderstorms are not uncommon on a daily basis, especially in the mid-west and southeast. Paying attention to the areas that you are going to be traveling in is a crucial step in being prepared for severe weather. This time of year, Vicki and I have a general ritual every morning, we enjoy our morning coffee and watch the weather channel. When it’s coming up on our travel days, we make sure we know what the forecast is for the areas we are going to be traveling through. On more than one occasion we have had to adjust when we leave an area just to make sure we are not on the road when severe weather hits. A good example is back in March, we were in Springfield Missouri, working a trade show. The trade show was wrapping up late Sunday afternoon and we had plans of leaving on Monday morning. On Sunday morning they started forecasting extremely bad weather including the possibility of tornados along our entire route back to Texas. We made the decision to pack up after the trade show and go ahead and drive all night to avoid the weather. We were very glad we did, Severe thunder storms and tornados popped up all along our route. It would not have made for a very enjoyable drive if we had gone with the original plan.
Sometimes being caught in severe weather is unavoidable. So, what should you do if you do get caught in it? First and foremost, I want you to understand that it does not matter if you’re parked or driving down the road, the last place you want to be is INSIDE YOUR RV! Your RV gives you very little protection in the event of a tornado. If you are traveling and severe weather threatens you should try to get off the highway and find a sturdy building to take shelter in.
If you are going to be staying in an area that is prone to severe weather and tornados, then when you check into the park, ask the managers if they have a storm shelter. Find out where they recommend you go in the event of severe weather. Most bathrooms at RV parks are made of brick or cinderblock and have little or no windows, this is a great place to find shelter in. Go to the middle of the bathroom and stay low to the ground till the storm passes.
Bugout Bag – Do you need one, and what should be in it?
What is a bugout bag? A bugout bag is something that is overlooked by most individuals but it’s essential to have one and to have it ready BEFORE a disaster strikes. A bugout bag is a backpack or duffel bag that is basically your 72-hour survival kit. You put items in it to help you in the event that a disaster strikes. You want this to be in a location in your RV that you can grab quickly and easily without having to dig for it. Please don’t wait till the threat is coming to get it ready. Put one together and you can rotate items out of it throughout the year so it’s always ready at a moment’s notice. So what should be in your Bugout Bag? You can create one bag for both you and your spouse or have (2) separate bags (1) for each.
- Clothing for at least 3 days (You should include a poncho or jacket.)
- You should make copies of your Driver’s License, Insurance Paperwork, Birth Certificates, Vehicle Titles and registration and Passport if you have one. Place these in a zip lock bag to keep them dry.
- A sturdy flashlight with fresh batteries
- Any medications that you take on a regular basis as well as Advil or Tylenol. Place your medication in one of those “Daily Pill” containers so you know you have enough to get by for up to a week.
- Basic First Aid Kit
- Spare Phone Charger
- A blanket
- Basic personal Hygiene items such as deodorant, soap and shampoo
- Toilet Paper and or some sanitary wipes
- Bottled water as well as some water purification tablets
- Protein Bars – Don’t try to pack a bunch of canned food it will make it harder to carry. You can actually survive for up to 3 weeks without food!
- A multipurpose tool is a nice item to have also or at least some sort of pocket knife.
- If you have a pet don’t forget to pack some extra food and water for them too.
Apps to help you stay safe!
There are a number of Apps available to help keep you informed of impending bad weather. If you are traveling you want to have one that will use your GPS location to alert you to the possibility of severe weather. Two apps that we use is “Simple Weather Alert” and “The Weather Channel”. There are a number of different apps available, just find one that you like and will work for your situation.
Till Next Time, Safe Travels!
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Author: Matt & Vicki Hulbert
