Boondocking during a natural disaster

[mountainborn]

Betty and I were boondocking on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas when a big storm took down many trees and trapped us for a couple of days. Since then we have been talking about how we might have been better prepared. Here is a link to the photos and storm damage. Also a TV news crew interview from Channel 11 in Little Rock.
What do you do in such a situation and how do you prepare for those kinds of things ?
Here is the clickable link:
Big Storm on the Lake » Oliver Travel Trailers

[tvketchum]

Fill the fresh tank and dump the black/gray tanks on arrival, and bring enough grub for a week.


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Tom
TVKetchum

[Protagonist]

Given that I might have to evacuate for a hurricane anytime between mid-August and mid-October in any given year, this is a subject near and dear to my heart. Bear in mind I've got an Interstate, so there are a few punch-list items that might be different for a trailer owner.

Store the Airstream with:
1 - Full diesel tank
2 - Full propane tank
3 - Full freshwater tank
4 - Fully charged batteries
5 - Empty black tank
6 - Empty gray tank
7 - At least a week's worth of clean clothes in the closet
8 - At least three days non-perishable food in the cabinets, more if there's room for it
9 - A few books to read and DVDs to watch in case there's no TV reception
10 - A handheld CB/weather radio in the glovebox
Plus the stuff that's normally kept in the Airstream all the time, such as dishes/cookware, first aid kit, etc.

When a tropical storm is on the way, I start the Airstream's fridge, and empty my home fridge into the Airstream's fridge, at least as much as will fit. A power outage at home, and spoiled food in the fridge, is expected.

With this setup, I'm ready to either bug out for someplace safer for a bad storm, or for a milder storm to hunker down and ride it out.

But rule #1 has to be, keep yourself safe first, THEN keep the Airstream safe. You can always buy a new Airstream; you can't ever buy a new life. Don't hesitate to get out of the affected area WITHOUT your Airstream, and come back for it later when everything has settled down, if that's what it takes.

[SilverCabin]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

Given that I might have to evacuate for a hurricane anytime between mid-August and mid-October in any given year, this is a subject near and dear to my heart.

Hi, just curious, we are in Central Florida on the east coast, where are you? BTW: Good advice.

Randy


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[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by SilverCabin

Hi, just curious, we are in Central Florida on the east coast, where are you? BTW: Good advice.

New Orleans metro area. You guys had Andrew as an example of a worst-case scenario, we had Katrina.

[cwf]

Practice .. Run thru the drill for yourselves.

Keep in mind, all consumables run out or expire.

Don't forget copies of prescriptions, etc...when you go to the Vet have them write one scrip for emergency should you need. I do that and if I don't use it I bring back to them on next visit...proves I did not have it filled.

Don't forget pet stuff if needed.

There may be needs for bandaging wounds... First aid thoughts.

Tools... Which you are qualified to use...(see First aid note above)

A tarp, 1/4" rope, bungees...

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by cwf

There may be needs for bandaging wounds... First aid thoughts.

I carry a West Marine 5.0 first aid kit. This kit is intended for use on boats offshore (not ocean crossing, just coastal cruising) and starts with the assumption that you can't really call an ambulance. So it concentrates more on supplies for treatment of physical trauma, and less on the "Band-Aids and aspirin" level of first aid that you see in many first aid kits. That makes it a good kit not only for natural disasters but also for any kind of camping.

Side note with regard to prescription meds: Your doctor may have samples that he can give out; my endocrinologist has samples of insulin pens (individual pens packed with seven disposable needles) as well as some meds in pill form such as Crestor (a card with a seven-day supply). Ask your doctor if he has samples of the meds you take, and if he will part with a few. If you keep getting your prescription refilled on schedule, the samples give you a larger buffer than the five days your medical insurance normally allows. I was able to get two insulin pens (on separate office visits) so even if my prescription runs out, I've got about a two-week supply of insulin in reserve (with my scrip, one pen lasts about a week). That's a great comfort in the event of a natural disaster when I might not be able to get to an open pharmacy for a while.

[Lily&Me]

We had a lot of good suggestions on this thread, regarding emergency preparedness, in the event one was caught in just such a scenario as you describe.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f161...ss-112133.html

You hate to think it could happen to you, but it happens to someone, somewhere, every single day.



Maggie