Tornados... - RV-Dreams Community Forum

policegirl · RV-Dreams Community Member

Tornados...

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

First you get a good weather radio.Since there are no safe places in a rv during a tornado you need to check out appropriate shelter in the campground and have a plan to get there.

RVRon · RV-Dreams Family Member

What Racerguy said! You might want to read Howard & Linda's journal entries for this past spring. It seemed that no matter where they went the tornadoes chased them! They found refuge in the concrete block restrooms.

janni · RV-Dreams Family Member

I second the NOA weather radio. Saved us a couple of times this spring in Arkansas. Also remember that a lot of campground shower rooms are brick.

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

Keep a "go Bag" ready with important papers, medicine, water, food, first aid, flashlight, radio and other items you can't do without in case something happens to the RV.

Some RV parks provide storm shelters or use the restrooms as shelters, other suggest evacuation to a nearby public shelter.

My Dad spent the night in the rafters of a shed at a flea market when a nearby river flooded the grounds. They just had time to get up into the rafters because the water was rising so fast. They didn't have warm clothes, food or a cellphone, so they were stuck until someone came by the next morning to check on them. Luckily the water only reached the bottom of the floor of their motorhome. So no major damage.

However, one smaller travel trailer was washed away with a man in it. It was crushed as the water forced the TT under a bridge. He lost his life.

My dad purchased and used a weather radio after that night.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Some RV parks have storm shelters, be sure to ask at check-in. Others will recommend the bathrooms. When we worked in Branson some people would jump in their vehicles and go to the parking garage for an hour. Whatever you end up doing, get out of your rig, it offers no protection. I've never been in a tornado, but my concern is flying debris, and I know the walls of my rig offer no protection to occupants.

janieD · RV-Dreams Family Member

Some years are worse than others, but a weather radio as others have said is a must. We don't let the threat of tornadoes keep us from visiting anywhere but we have a healthy respect for mother nature. This year we have spent 3 nights in the restroom shower shelters in Iowa. Nothing awful happened in our campgrounds but when you live in an RV, better safe than sorry (or dead) and just like when we gave up our S&B homes we try to remember that "stuff" can always be replaced including our beloved RV.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Living in tornado country ourselves (Oklahoma City), in some cases the underground shelters are the only things to consider. OKC has had its share of big ones where even a concrete brick building is insufficient.

I strongly agree with NorCal Dan in that when you check INTO an RV park or campground is when you want to find out where the storm shelter is located. You don't want to wait until you hear the sirens (or don't hear anything but the wind.)

Weather radios are good, but be sure and become familiar with them and how to set them for alerts in the area where you are. It is of no benefit if the radio is set for a county that is 300 miles away from where you are located.

Terry

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Definitely ask at check in...the one RV Park we stayed at in OKC, http://www.councilrdrvpark.com/, had an underground storm shelter for park residents, but they did NOT allow pets in it, so we didn't go when the storm arrived. But they did notify park residents when threatening storms approached, a nice touch when you aren't familiar with the surrounding counties, that is what NOAA radio's use to describe tornado locations. Now I go online and print out a county map so I can track the warnings.

We noticed people who live in tornado country have a different outlook on tornado's, at least it seemed like it to us. I can guess they have seen them so many times they don't get excited unless they can actually see the tornado.

Of course we were outside gawking at the sky when then came by and recommended we head to the shelter. The tornado touched down near the airport (a couple miles south of our location), and after dark, so we didn't get to see it. So seeing one is still on my bucket list.