Firstly, let us take a minute and think about the thousands of people who have lost homes, property, and even their lives in the recent Hurricanes. Our aid, comfort and support should go out to them.
Several people recently, with the two hurricanes, have, asked me about using their camper to ride out natural disasters. It seems like a natural thing: you have a self-contained unit for living, and you need to live in an area that might have no electric, water or sewage for several days or even weeks. That and I think RV people are more comfortable being self-reliant than the average person. So, what do you need to do to make your camper your shelter and safe haven for several days or even weeks?
Well, first off, what kind of disaster are you talking about? The people who have asked me about doing this are naturally talking about hurricanes; however, with some modifications, you can be prepared for just about anything. Obviously your preparations for a hurricane are going to be slightly different than for a blizzard. So, put some thinking and planning into what you are going to be using your camper for and when.
Before a natural disaster strikes, be prepared. Check all the systems of your camper; do the lights work? Does the smoke detector and the propane detector and carbon monoxide detector work? The water and sewage system working? How about the fridge? If you have had problems when a natural disaster strikes, you know that that is not the time to have to go get a part down at the camper store. Keep your camper ready, and you will have fewer problems and worries when a disaster does strike.
But let’s start with the basics.
- Water in most cases is all important. Clean and disinfect your fresh water tanks and fill it completely. Buy several gallons of water just for drinking that can be stored and maybe cooled individually.
- Plan on how to conserve your water; you don’t want to use tons of water washing dishes, so buy some paper plates and disposable flatware.
- Dump your black and grey tanks and make sure they are totally empty and clean; you maybe using them for several days. Make sure when you do use them to be sparing with the water, you don’t want them to fill too fast. Long, hot showers are not a good idea to conserve water or propane!
- Make sure your generator is working; fill it with fuel and, of course, fill gas containers. The idea isn’t to have enough fuel to keep it running all the time, just to keep your battery charged.
- Make sure your propane tanks are full and ready; you may want to go out and buy a new tank or two if you think this is going to last a long time.
- How is your camper battery? Several years old? Doesn’t hold as much of a charge as it used to? You may want a back up, and a charger to plug into the generator.
- Radios, flashlights, lanterns and of course batteries! We have two radios in addition to the camper radio; they are battery types with the national weather service channels and are able to be powered by turning a crank on the side of them. To be honest, if the kids have to crank the radio to get it to work, they listen to it less at least after the fun of cranking wears off.
- Food, make sure you have food that is easy to prepare and won’t spoil easily. One pot meals are nice, especially if they don’t depend on lots of frozen meats and items you have to keep in the fridge. I have to say canned items are great for this. Snacks and dried fruit are also very nice and provide a feeling of comfort, especially to the kids.
- Pack clothes and linens and sleeping bags for your stay, be sure to include proper foot wear!
- How about some games and books to pass the time. I wouldn’t recommend movies since they use up electric.
- A GPS in your vehicle might prove very valuable if roads are blocked, destroyed or just very congested.
- Do you feel you need any personal protection devices? That is a personal choice, but I feel it should be mentioned.
- Do you have all your medications filled, packed, and your first-aid kits ready?
Now that you are mostly ready for what is going to happen. Make some plans. If a Hurricane is coming and it isn’t safe to stay in your house, I am not going to go outside and stay in my much lighter and fragile camper. I am going to hook up to it and head away from the storm to a protected campground, not in a flood area, not with lots of tall dead trees around it. Maybe now is the time to go on that vacation to Yellowstone? On the other hand, if it is a blizzard, maybe you can stay at home and just make sure you get extra salt, shovels and gas for the snow blower. Floods, how about a nice high campground? In most cases, you have some warning, and, if you make a plan, you will have clear goals and destinations. Like my old Boy Scout Motto used to say: Be Prepared!
Your Obedient Servant,
Gary Smith, Jr.