Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Tornados...


RV-Dreams Community Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 10
Date:
Tornados...


This may not be the place to post this but i couldn't find a weather thread... We will be first time rv'ers in Sept.. can't wait! Even though our RV will be small (24') it will have plumbing! yay!! No more going to the bathroom behind a tree in the middle of the night, lol..

Anyway. my question, being an okie gal... What do ya'll do when there is bad weather involving tornados???  Any advice on what to do with a travel trailer anything special??  etc...

Thanks so much!

 



__________________


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1426
Date:

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.



__________________

RVing probably not a reality any more.It was a good time while it lasted.



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 486
Date:

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.

dsc_1656-S.jpg



__________________

Ron and Joan
2005 Itasca Sunova 34A
2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland

Fulltiming since 3/28/12

"With change comes opportunity"



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 393
Date:

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.

__________________


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1337
Date:

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.

__________________

"Small House, Big Yard "

"May the FOREST be with you"
Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1192
Date:

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.

__________________

2018 Thor Windsport 35M -- 2018 Camry Toad

-- USAF Retired -- Full-timing since December 2007 - Part-Timing since July 2011
VisitedStatesMap.jpg
http://http://travelingrvwx.com/



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 318
Date:

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.

__________________

janieD
2007 Dodge 3500 DRW 5.9L
2010 Excel Limited 30RSO
Full Timing starting June 2010
Blog: www.flamingoonastick.blogspot.com



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5398
Date:

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



__________________

Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1192
Date:

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.

__________________

2018 Thor Windsport 35M -- 2018 Camry Toad

-- USAF Retired -- Full-timing since December 2007 - Part-Timing since July 2011
VisitedStatesMap.jpg
http://http://travelingrvwx.com/

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us