Is anyone near Stuart, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale area? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Is anyone near Stuart, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale area?

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have a job offer in West Palm Beach Florida. One of those offers that if you turned it down you would forever kick yourself in the butt.

Never really considered living in a hurricane zone in an RV. Eeek.

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

I lived in Melbourne, FL (just a bit north) for 12 years before I hit the road, and we've spent a good bit of time back in the area since becoming RVers to visit family.

The cool thing about hurricanes is they usually give you substantial advanced notice, and your home has wheels. Use them :)

One of the toughest things about living the by ocean .. in well anything.. is how harsh the salt air is on aging things.

- Cherie

FLCoastalChick · RV-Dreams Family Member

I live in Naples... that is Hurricane heaven. Been here for 5 years. I know Hurricanes are an aweful thought. The thing you have to remember is that you will have a chance to move your rig. They give 4 to 5 day warnings. I have no qualms about moving into an RV I have actually asked for advice on it through this post!!. I called a storage unit that has 15' walls and I can move it into there with electric and sewer..If I can prove FL residency I can park my RV there at any time.

Here is my thought on this:

RV.. absolutely. If your new job knows that you are in an RV...they will give you the time off with a 60% pay loss if there was a hurricane that came through. You may have to bug out. That needs to be negotiated.

I just dont know how to say this polite other than I lived in MI and TN for 30 years and experienced both. If you are watching the storm systems in an RV and have the ability to move... one would. But twisters come down in a matter of minutes.

FLCoastalChick · RV-Dreams Family Member

I am living in a fantasy... I just said in last post I was adding it up and I was 35...add another 11 and lets call it a day.. ~smoochies~

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Grew up in Florida and go there all the time. Family and I lived in South Florida, some still do. I am very familiar with the area you are talking about all around the east coast. We still have an Airstream in the Cape area. We’ve been through many Hurricanes as has our Airstream(s). I’m not saying Hurricanes are anything to take lightly. I’m saying: Take the job.

Bill

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Not a lot of campground choices very close to West Palm is the main problem I see. Be careful about high camping costs. Hurricanes you can drive away from since you normally have days of warning. Some friends were workcamping when Wilma headed their way, they moved 200 miles for a few days. When they came back they got to clean the debris from their campsite, including stuff that would have done major damage.

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Is this section of the forum "Google searchable...."

If so I need to get this off here.

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

As a former resident of Naples for 34 years, I would not hesitate to live there again.

As others have said, you will have four or five days notice to move. If you are in an RV I would evacuate with any storm above a tropical storm. (Cat 1 and above)

Th only problem is the escape route. You really can only go north, so make the decision and leave very early to avoid being stranded on the road when the traffic starts to clog. It is a long way to the Georgia border when you can turn west.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

I guess I will tell the story. Mom and Dad were full-timers and lived on the SE coast. The Hurricane, real one, CAT-2/3 as I recall, came. With the notice, they hitched up the rig and off to the NW they went. Storm changed direction and went up toward the NW. They circled around the state to the NE. Storm changed direction again to the NE; they headed back South down the east coast and back home to South Florida. They never had to fight a wind of any consequence. Nice thing about RV’s, they move and the warning is days out. Only problem is just deciding to move and not stay put if it looks above CAT-1 or so.. Caution - with proper planning - is the word – not fear.

We have many Hurricane stories including one time taking the dog out, in the eye of the Hurricane, to do her business. Hurricane Donna in the ‘60’s – true story.

Bill