it's important to know where all the escape exits are located......

[2airishuman]

in the frozen dawn i walked around and looked at the trees...

the actual koa staff told me this was "springfield's worse winter storm in 70 years"

i believed him too...

while the ice had passed after 10 days the trees show what happened...

bowing down to the weight of frozen water...

some are still bowed...

others have been cut back to relieve the pain.

and only stumps give a clue to the summer shade by the pool...

cheers
2air

click the pix for larger views...

[2airishuman]

no humans were harmed in this natural event...

which is amazing and the one happy note.

but a lot of trees were downed or damaged beyond repair...

this shot shows the pile of tree material removed from the park so far...

and they aren't done...

hard to measure scale in the photo, but this area of tree debris...

is a full sized baseball field, FULL to the outfield.

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

a dangerous issue whenever ice storms happen...

is powerlines, downed power lines, LIVE down power lines...

NEVER EVER go near a line, touch a branch or even duck under a line...

very bad things will happen...

here is a shot of the power coming into the park...

the down line had been repaired 2-3 days after the storm...

and a good thing all of the rv sites had power via buried lines...

so there were no other live wires down at sites...

but IF you had been in this park the nite of the storm...

your trailer and tv would have been blocked in.

because the down power line was at the gate/entry...

cheers
2air'

[str8strm]

We have a rear bedroom with an escape window at the rear and keep a flaslight, fire extinguisher and keys to the deadbolt at under the bed ( not the fire extinguisher ) in case we have to bail out the rear window!

[2airishuman]

of course there were folks camping here the night of the storm...

here is a shot of a 5th wheel covered in lumber...

and the campground owners also own a fleet of rental rvs.

last time i was here about 15 of them were neatly parked on the back row..

under the protection of these big old trees...

all but 2 had now been removed and taken to an indoor spot...

for protection from the elements and eventual repairs...

here is a shot of 1 that was still on site...

some folks also 'store' their rigs here out by a hedge row...

luckily these trees fell the other way...

but still loom dangerously over the prowler here...

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

this is NOT the sort of tow vehicle ya wanna find...

in the next site over...

click the pic and read the doors...

so, i guess my message this time is...

in addition to locating and knowing how to use your rv escape routes...

also think a bit about the campground exits and roadways...

pick a site you can enjoy and take a minute to think about HOW to get out...

or get to higher ground or a shelter...

if the time comes

that is all for the springfield ice storm of 2007.

cheers
2air'

feel free to add comments or posts as always...

[janetb]

Whew! Your posts are a great safety check, 2Air. And those photos--holy smokes! Thanks for doing a terrific service with these reminders! Sometimes getting into the vacation/adventure mode makes one forget about the fact that reality never takes a break.

[pamelake]

Is there an escape window in my '74 Tradewind? How would I know? I have wondered about this.... Pam

[Fyrzowt]

a dangerous issue whenever ice storms happen...

is powerlines, downed power lines, LIVE down power lines...

NEVER EVER go near a line, touch a branch or even duck under a line...

very bad things will happen...

This is so important. A firefighter was killed about a year ago, when he contacted a power line that was hidden in a down tree. A line may look dead but may be live, or the power equipment may recycle the relay in an effort to restore power. When this happens, lines can jump - stay well clear, don't step over them, etc.

Another key point is to stay away from metal fences such as Cyclone or barbed wire if you suspect wires may be down in the area. They may carry the power to you from the downed wires a great distance away.

Good safety post with some great things to think about. Karma.
Dave

[SilverToy]

Pamelake -

As far as my limited AS experience goes, there are RED handles on the designated "escape windows". Those are ones that will fold completely away and allow total egress. Perhaps not gracefull but then gracefull isn't what one thinks of in that situation.... It's later that we laugh.

Check to see that you know all the locations in your unit (ALA the Escape routes that are forever talking about on planes these day!?!!!) and also know where everyone will likely be sleeping (overnight scenario) so that no one get forgotten!!!! A nearby meeting place ensures that everyone is accounted for - a not to be over looked ( but OFTEN IS!!!!!) portion of of all this.

Be sure that everyone is aware - should the situation get SERIOUS - break a window (front or rear, either by agreement or by situation (Fire) with the heaviest thing in the trailer. Break it - then dive out of it. It may not be pretty or glamourous, but then you're Getting air, your out and the air is critical, CRITICAL!!!!!!!! AirStream be damded, they make more.

Fixing, or not damageing the trailer further, is at least tertiary on the critical items list for a INS. CO.! Prioritized to manage the unfortuate situation and get people back into the life they are loving, and hate to leave, we need to make this whole again, ASAP!!!

WE campers can be EXTREMELY CLEAR in what our EXACT NEEDS are and WHEN WE EXPECT TO GET THEM. They are after all dealing with a LOT of people that want resolution that second.... Pressure baby!!!!

A reasonable listening/info gathering attitude, coupled with a very resonable counter offer ( with solid documentation! x3 or 4) and then a serious dialog explaning both sides, then hashing it all out (IN YOUR FAVOR!!!) and then getting the check(s) post haste..... all make for a resonable insurance Co. interaction.... Likely the best one can hope for these days. Sigh.

[pmclemore]

This reminds me of a question I have, but never thought to ask:

My escape hatch is at the rear, and has the red handles - I have hesitated to try it, as I worry that a leak will be created where one does not now exist.

Will opening the escape hatch (rear window) cause a leak, or make one more likely?

Thanks - Pat.

And thanks, 2air, for your very important reminders.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by pmclemore

...Will opening the escape hatch (rear window) cause a leak, or make one more likely?.

hi pat...

opening the window will not cause leaks IF you close it after use...

on the modern trailers the exit windows are basically identiical to the full opening classic windows so they can be used for ventilation...

i use them regularly...

what sets the 'exit' windows appart is the screen...

there are little loops of screen piping that when pulled...

release the screen material from its frame...

IF you pull these,
it does take some effort to restore the screen to normal tension,
like rebuilding many window screens...

cheers
2air'

hi pam...

i'm not sure about the exits on a 74.
my 79 had the modern exits but don't sure on a 74...
the exits are/were a federal requirement but what year this started isn't clear 2 me.

check your owners manual OR go around and inspect each window...
exits should have a FULL opening window and a quickly removed screen.
should be on in the back and one on the street side depending on floor plan.

[pmclemore]

thanks, 2air. This is a silly thing not to test.

[jcanavera]

My Safari's rear window was just a solid piece of glass with no screen. It was only meant to be opened for emergency purposes. For me it was a regular entry point for the vaccum hose from my whole house vac which was in the garage. The window always closed tightly and I used to lube the gasket so that it wouldn't stick when opened. Now my Classic has a screen on its rear window so like noted above you would have to re install that along with the piping that holds it. So far I haven't done that since I know that I'll never get it fitting as tight as it is today.

Jack

Jack

[2airishuman]

yea u r right jack...

my note only applies to classics, internationals and safaris with the upgrade package...

i forgot about the hehr windows with the rubber/butyl frames used on many of the safaris...

like these...

cheers
2air'

[Chaplain Kent]

Originally Posted by pamelake

Is there an escape window in my '74 Tradewind? How would I know? I have wondered about this.... Pam

Yes, it is the rear window. Cut or kick the screen out and open the window wide, step right down on the rear bumper.

[Melody Ranch]

It has been nearly 10 years ago that a friend was camped (SOB) at a Park in Concan, TX. Think flash floods. It was nice there along the Frio River, but North of there was a ferocious rain storm. With no warning at about 3:00 AM they felt the trailer move and heard a rush turn to a roar. They were actually floating away in a flash flood. In the dark the trailer rolled 90 degrees to its side, water rushing thru all openings, and all power gone. Luckliy?, they jammed against a huge Cypress tree. They were trapped inside and had no idea as to an emergency escape...probably lucky in this case with the rushing flood and darkness. They survived but the fact remains that they were not prepared at all and neither was the Park where they were safly camped. Know your surroundings, know your emergency exits, have the right equipment and a plan of action

[juel]

What a horrible disaster for everyone involved. I am getting ready to go down to view the lake property after our terrible ice storm. They say it's safe to come down to look now. I'm not sure I want to see if we have any trees left down there. The Argosy was not there thankfully. As far as being able to transport a damaged trailer, my husband talked me in to buying a car hauler by saying that it would indeed be able to haul the Argosy in case of an emergency. He really wanted it for hauling his 52 Ford to shows; however, his ploy worked and we got the really big trailer with axels that would allow us to transport my much loved Argosy out of harms way.

[azflycaster]

Thank you 2air' for bringing this thread back to life. I have all the required items in my trailer. Fire extigishers, smoke and CO detectors, first aid kit, but no escape plan. We will have one fefore the next trip.

[Fyrzowt]

Melody Ranch's post brings up a good point regarding exit locations. What you may think of as an exit may not be available to you for a number of reasons. Of course our door is our 1st choice, followed by our "emergency exit" window. But don't limit your thinking to these. ANY window that is large enough to fit through can become an exit. Some trailers and MOHOs have skylights. Perfect if the unit is on it's side, kick it out. Above all, preplan.
Don't lock yourself into one way of approaching an emergency.
Dave