Since starting to full-time, Dave and I have called ourselves “flip flop campers”. Meaning we only go where the weather is warm enough to wear flip flops, for example, Maine or South Dakota for the summer and Texas or Florida for the winter. In addition to staying where the weather is warm, we wanted to stay out of as many natural disaster areas as possible, for example, not going anywhere near ”tornado alley” during tornado season!!

What we have found is there is no ideal place where the temperature is perfect year-round. We just keep moving to find it. Sometimes we “win” and sometimes we “lose”.

We spent one winter in Texarkana, Texas, and it snowed 15” for the first time “in a lifetime”. We fled Lake Charles, Louisiana, as flood waters were rising. Our closest call to being a victim of a disaster was when we were in Blountstown, Florida, two months after Hurricane Michael October 2018. At the time we were doing disaster relief work at a not-for-profit after Hurricane Michael. Having lived most of our life away from tornado areas we weren’t familiar with preparations. As silly as it sounds to us now, we didn’t know to look for a “safe spot” when we got to the area or to even have a go-bag! We do now.

A tornado touched down less than 10 miles away from us. While 10 miles sounds like a lot, it isn’t when you are listening intently to the radio and the announcer is saying Blountstown is in the tornado’s direct path and that we better be in a shelter, because it was coming! When the wind is howling, the lightening is crashing in cascades and you can’t see 2 feet out your RV windows because of the pouring rain, it is not the time to start thinking of where you will go, and what you will bring in case you need to flee!

But this was us! Ah, it is one of those things you learn along the way in life! Now wherever we go in the country, we have our go-bag ready and when we arrive at a campground, we always look for a “safe spot” even if we are not in “tornado alley”.

One of the things we have learned the hard way is to be aware of the emerging weather conditions around us. If you feel uncomfortable, if your intuition goes into alarm mode, go! DO NOT wait until there is an evacuation order!

Man-Made and Natural Disasters

It doesn’t matter what you have for an RV, it is very difficult to escape the effects of man-made and natural disasters. RVs are not made to withstand the kind of natural and man-made disasters across the country. How would you and your RV survive:

• Wind storms, high winds have been known to topple RVs and 18 wheelers
• Tornadoes
• Flash floods
• Blizzards
• Severe thunderstorms
• Forest fires
• Volcanoes
• Earthquakes
• Even “blue northers” in which the temperature can drop 50 degrees in a matter of minutes

What do you do if you are in your RV and a natural disaster such as a hurricane or tornado is imminent?

What is a “Safe Spot”?

A “safe spot” is a geographic place you can go in the event of hurricane, tornado or even severe thunderstorm. In a house this geographic location might be a windowless bathroom located in the center of the house. If you are in an RV, your safe spot might be the cement block bathroom of your campground.

The following resources may help:

• https://www.weather.gov/mqt/hometips
• https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
• http://www.hurricanescience.org/society/risk/huricanesafety/

The safest thing to do if a hurricane is predicted is to physically leave the geographic area. People who live in hurricane prone areas do this routinely. RVers have the benefit of their home being on wheels, and can take their home with them as they flee.

Tornadoes are more “pop-ups”. That is when identifying a safe spot upon arrival at a campground is important. When a tornado is bearing down on you is not the best time to start looking for a safe spot!

What is a Go-Bag?

A go-bag is literally a backpack or other bag that can carry necessary items in the event of a natural disaster. Natural disasters could include a hurricane, tornado, severe thunderstorm or even a wild fire.

A go-bag can be purchased at many online sites or you can make your own.

We recommend you go online to get your own ideas:

• https://www.ready.gov/kit
• https://www.511tactical.com/go-bag-checklist-for-national-preparedness-month

We know a couple who travel full-time in their RV who have a go-bag that includes enough water and MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat) for two people for two weeks.

Our Go-Bag

We have put together our own go-bag. It is partially filled and readily accessible at all times. If a disaster is imminent and we can’t flee, we will complete our go-bag from the full list we keep in the bag. Our go-bag is fluorescent yellow. It is easy to find if we are in “panic mode”.

We are from Maine. One of the things we keep onboard, even though we had hoped we never needed it is a snow shovel. When it snowed 15” in Texarkana, we were glad we had it!

How Fast Can You Leave?

This is important. Flash floods and wild fires move quickly. If you have to leave an area, for example, when we were in Lake Charles and the water was rising, FAST, how quickly could you flee the area? How fast can you move your RV if you have to, including:

• stowing away things inside your RV (securing the coffee pot, putting away the knick-knacks)
• unhooking all of the services (power, water, sewer)
• hooking up your trailer or toad

Recommendation: It is IMPORTANT for you to determine how long it takes you to hook up and leave. How fast can you do it? Practice. Literally time yourself in how long it takes to pack up quickly. When you least expect it, your life and your RV may depend on your ability to flee in under 20 minutes.

Take-away Point

Most people, including RVers, don’t like to think about what would happen if a natural disaster was to occur in their geographic area. But it does happen. By being newbies and being “caught” by an approaching tornado, we learned the importance of always looking for a safe spot upon arrival, having a go-bag ready and being ready to flee in under 20 minutes. Be prepared!

Your partners in travel,
Kathryn, Dave and Lucky
RVing Nomads
It’s a lifestyle

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