What do you do in severe weather situations? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Woodchip · RV-Dreams Community Member

What do you do in severe weather situations?

jagco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Some RV parks have designated storm shelters. Some of the shower/bathroom buildings are well made. Other than that, in some places, I woulld probably just pray for the best. I'll be interested what folks have to say about their experiences.

ken and cindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

("But...what about a situation where a tornado was approaching a site where you're parked?")

Find a safe low lying area,(ditch, culvert...etc..) alot of these RV parks have concrete block bath houses that would most likely be alot safer than in the RV.

I lived in west Texas for many years, every time a storm came there were multiple tornados involved. One actually destroyed my garage. But the overall odds of getting caught in the immediate path are very ,very slim. IMHO.

Besides a good built RV will withstand more than most people think. The superstructure is built to drive down the road going 60-70 miles per hour ,ten of thousand of mile per year! Try that with a house...

Example: If you ever get a chance to really see the some videos of Hurricane IKE , you will see that most all the RV's that were caught on Galveston Island were still completely intact after the storm !We live in the area, and was amazed when we saw a few completely demolished houses being supported by the Fifthwheels that were parked next to the houses when the storm hit.

On the way to our daughters house near Kileen Tx, there was this old Carraige fifthwheel sitting under a metal carport next to an old barn. A tornado came through the area and detroyed the barn ripped the carport to pieces and left the 5'ver untouched. Everytime I see it I tell my DW that the safest place in that tornado would have been in the 5'ver !

bubbadan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Depending on the amount of time you have before the weather is upon you. Most CG's have a safe place for people, like the bathhouses and or the office, that most of the time are made of blocks and no windows.
By all means do not stay in the TT find a place out side in a low spot, some place below ground level.
I know that is not much help but it is the best I got. If the CG takes a direct hit there is almost no safe spot TT, 5er, or MH even a Stick and Brick will not hold up under a class 2 + storm. I have been very lucky I was in the class 5 + in Oklahoma City not fun.

UniquelyRV · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've lived in Tornado Alley my whole life, and agree with Bubbadan. While a MH may be very well built and heavy, and some TT's or 5er's have survived, I would abandon them in a heartbeat and get below ground. Most CG's (at least in this part of the country) will have a designated storm shelter. If that's not an option, get out and into a ditch or other low spot. Protect your head. If travelling down the highway, DO NOT climb up into an overpass or under a bridge. Those structures can actually increase the windspeed and your chances of getting hurt.

Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

One thing I would suggest is for everyone to have a weather radio so you will be able to have warnings for your area. Second I would recommend that you pull in all your slides. Third look for a cement block toliet/shower area in your campground. Some campgrounds do have shelters for RV's and also have clubhouses with bathrooms that may be safe. No RV is worth your life staying in while in a tornado storm.
southwestjudy

RonandJacki · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm thinking of you all on the Gulf Coast and farther up the Atlantic Seaboard with this storm approaching and hoping for the best.

suitelifenow · RV-Dreams Community Member

Knowing what county your traveling in/through is important. We were traveling in WY and SD a couple of summers ago. We had just bought a car in WY and hubby had a sales call in SD while I drove to Spearfish. I heard on the radio there was a storm in the area with large hail in such&such county....I had no idea what county I was in. I knew Spearfish, Sturgis, and Rapid City......but not the county. I also didn't have the map as it was with hubby. They finally gave the mile-marker and I took cover in a concrete block car wash. All was well, but I've learned my lesson. Later I found out there was softball size hail....glad I pulled off!!

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Best advice is have a weather radio and pay attention to the weather channel. We were in Gulf Shores area for the winter but Hurricane Ida entered the Gulf of Mexico. So since we are living on wheels we hook-up and moved North 100 miles. Looks like Ida turned into a Tropical Storm, however in my opinion our decision was a goodone. It started raining here yesterday at 1:30 pm and its still raining, but we have no flooding and no wind. We will return back to the Gulf area tomorrow. Never Trust a Hurricane. GBY......

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jo and I live in the Oklahoma City area, so we have a little experience with storms. I personally have lived in Oklahoma most of my life (except for military service and 2 years in Texas), and I can honestly say that I have never actually seen a tornado. Not even the ones just a few years ago.

However, all the advice given above is good advice. While one might like to think that a fifth wheel will stand up pretty well during a tornado, that doesn't justify staying in it during such an event. I have been in a number of "straight wind" storms that caused a lot of damage, so finding a good shelter is advisable.

Pulling in the slides is a factor that I hadn't thought of before, so thanks for the suggestion, Judy.

Terry