Before you arrive at your destination:
1. Plan an evacuation route.
2. Select an elevated campsite away from large trees.
3. Videotape or photograph everything in your RV.
4. Purchase waterproof document holders for your important papers.
5. Check your insurance to make sure you’re covered for hurricanes.
6. Identify where you’ll store your RV if you need to evacuate and make sure it’s not in a low-lying area prone to flooding.
Photo credit: Jeff Fay
When the storm is approaching:1. Prepare an emergency kit with potable water, non-perishable foods and other personal items you may need, like prescription medications.
2. Fill containers with water for hygiene needs like brushing your teeth and flushing the toilet. If you have a bathtub, fill it as well.
3. Purchase batteries, garbage bags, tarps (which come in handy for patching the roof), a battery-operated radio, an oil lamp and oil, and even a small window air conditioner, which can run off your generator and allow you to sleep better.
4. Fill the fuel tank and check your fluids. Inspect the tires and windshield wipers. If you have a grill, make sure you have enough propane.
5. Place valuable papers in waterproof containers or plastic zipped bags.
6. Consider boarding up the windows with Plylox®, which allows you to easily attach plywood and can be purchased at a local home store.
7. Make sure your fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries installed.
8. Perform a safety check of the entire vehicle. Make sure you know where the transfer switch is for the generator, so you can isolate the electricity from the rest of the power grid to prevent electrical shocks.
If you’re advised to evacuate:
1. Avoid driving through water. It may stall your engine and cause irreparable engine
damage. Moving water can sweep away your vehicle, and roads covered by standing water are prone to collapse.
2. Remove any nearby tree branches or other items that may become airborne.
3. Empty holding tanks, turn off propane cylinders and cover the regulator.
4. Cover your vents and the air conditioning unit, and tie down travel trailers.
5. Secure all items located outside your RV, including lawn chairs, tables, grills, etc. Even a dustpan can be a lethal weapon in 100-mile-an-hour winds.
Andy emphasizes that it’s not worth staying to ride out a hurricane. If you’re advised to evacuate, do so quickly. Hurricanes can be frightening, but following these easy steps will ensure you’re prepared to protect yourself and your RV.
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