Your Back-Up Home on Wheels!
Several of our customers noted that many members of their community use their RV’s as their primary residence during a natural disaster until repairs and electricity are restored. While we certainly purchase our homes on wheels for the lighter side of life–travel, entertainment and fun!–there is no denying the potential benefits they present during various emergency situations. Whether utilizing your rig for the generator power, or living in it following major damages to your brick and mortar home, there are several ways to use your RV for safety purposes.
While the mobility of an RV alone may seem it’s greatest virtue during an emergency evacuation, it will only take you so far as you’ve prepared it to. Some supplies to have on hand seem pretty obvious, and include a first aid kit complete with bandages, basic medications and antibiotic creams, blankets and season-appropriate bedding, and water. Other items are equally as important, though, such as a supply of non-perishable foods, utensils such as can openers and all-purpose cooking knives, bathing toiletries, and filled propane tanks. It is easy to forget how much we depend on electricity, gas stations, and supermarkets until they aren’t readily available, so if you dip into your emergency back-up reserves during a normal camping trip be sure to replace them as soon as you return home! If you store your RV during winter months, simply keep your emergency kit items in extra bins in your home or garage where they are easy to grab-and-go!
Another great tip is to always know your destination. If you are forced to move into your RV and get out of dodge quick, do you know where you will be heading? Have a plan, a map, and printed directions stored in your RV for just such occasions. While we rely heavily on modern technology for GPS and cell phone service, these things do not always work properly in times of crisis. Having a plan set up does not take a lot of time, but could certainly save you from having to make hasty last minute decisions during an already hectic event.
To summarize, the best way to utilize your RV in an emergency situation is to have a plan. We’ve all seen the cheesy PSA’s about having an emergency kit, but the message rings ever truer each time Southern California enters fire season for us, or hurricanes, tornados, and flooding wreak havoc on other parts of the country. We offer these emergency plan tips much the same way we offer our RV extended warranties–while we hope you will never have to use them, they pay off big if and when the time comes. Safe travels!
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