Camping in tornadoes and severe t-storms.

[SMKovalchik]

Last night while in Vicksburg, MS we were hit with 3+ hours of constant tornadoes, flooding and thunderstorms with horrid swirling winds and lightening. In 40+ years of RVing I’m not sure we’ve ever been in this dangerous of a situation. Along with other campers and dogs, we huddled in the office/bathrooms/laundry rooms. The rains were unreal and swirling. Had we been in our previous motorhomes the rain would have been driven through every slide, crook and cranny. No matter what quality a MH or trailer is you can’t avoid that with slides in particular so when the storm subsided we all rushed back to assess our damages. Our “Silver Bullet” was bone dry. We haven’t found a single drop of water any place and believe me we looked. Others were drying out while we ate dinner. Thank you Airstream.

[GMFL]

Great post

[rmkrum]

Glad you are all ok.

Points out the importance of being aware of the situation and getting to shelter instead of staying in an RV under those circumstances!

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by SMKovalchik

Last night while in Vicksburg, MS we were hit with 3+ hours of constant tornadoes, flooding and thunderstorms with horrid swirling winds and lightening. In 40+ years of RVing I’m not sure we’ve ever been in this dangerous of a situation. Along with other campers and dogs, we huddled in the office/bathrooms/laundry rooms. The rains were unreal and swirling. Had we been in our previous motorhomes the rain would have been driven through every slide, crook and cranny. No matter what quality a MH or trailer is you can’t avoid that with slides in particular so when the storm subsided we all rushed back to assess our damages. Our “Silver Bullet” was bone dry. We haven’t found a single drop of water any place and believe me we looked. Others were drying out while we ate dinner. Thank you Airstream.

Glad your experience turned out OK!

My 34' Excella sat in Florida as hurricane Irma passed over in 2017. The trailer was passed directly over, less than a mile east of the eastern most edge of the eyewall. There was evidence of tornados nearby. The trailer did not move nor was there any major damage in ~100 mph winds. The damage nearby was amazing, and still being worked on today.

Since then I've thought about it a lot, "what would I do?" Would I rather be inside the trailer than inside a building during a direct hit tornado? I don't know! Building collapse and flying debris or take a ride in the trailer are two choices. If I had the time to make either of those choices, I think maybe I would get into the swimming pool instead. Next to the edge closest to the approaching tornado, where it is somewhat underground and somewhat protected from flying debris, I think would be better.

[rmkrum]

Generally the lower you can get in a tornado situation the better. A ditch, a culvert or a low spot is safer if there is not a sturdy building available. It’s still a crap shoot. Tornadoes are very unpredictable and dangerous.

Flying or falling debris is the main hazard. Lived in Northern Alabama for many years. Had a below-ground shelter area in our basement and all the heavy tools, jacks, and survival gear in it to dig our way out afterwards.

Was still a very scary time when the weather got seriously dangerous.

[Protagonist]

A couple years ago, an RV park near Larose, Louisiana was hit by a tornado. I happened to drive past the RV park on my way to the Bonnet Carré Spillway the next day. The whole campground was visible from the highway. Every single trailer, every single motorhome, every single tow vehicle or toad, every single fence, and every single metal building was demolished. That was a sobering sight.


If I'm ever camping when a tornado watch is issued for my area (preferably before the watch is upgraded to a warning!), I will immediately load up my cats in their pet carriers and relocate them and me to the nearest open concrete building which is likely to be— at most state parks and Corps of Engineers campgrounds at least— the bathhouse.


If nothing else, even if the bathhouse collapses, I'll be relatively safe from flying debris, as opposed to becoming flying debris if I sheltered in anything less sturdy!

[SewStream]

I have a question - what about being out on the road, or camping where there is not a building/shelter? What to do if you are traveling on the road when a tornado warning is issued?

This has been on my mind, as I have been in tornados around me, but have always had a basement shelter, or ditch to get to. I know what the sky looks like when a tornado is likely to form. In fact, I just got a tornado warning weather alert for our S&B home base 1300 miles away from where we are! We are now on-the-road as full-timers, so this is a concern while traveling.

[Lily&Me]

Then you get off the road and to a safe space.

Tornadoes never come out of the blue, there is always plenty of warning of them and storm systems that can spawn them.

Watch the weather, and be aware of what is happening.

Maggie

[rmkrum]

The two vital things with weather are: Situational awareness, and paying attention and acting upon the warnings.

Tornadoes can seemingly come out of nowhere. Huntsville, Alabama had one pop up with little warning many years ago. It wrecked our church and a shopping center across the street. It killed 21 people that we know of. One man was in his car, in the area, and has never been found. It was a bad one.

Warning systems have been improved since, but you still have to hear them and quickly act to shelter accordingly.

The Huntsville area has warning sirens, but many of the locals are fatalistic and tend to ignore them. Never understood that attitude, personally. My family reacts as a matter of course, and laughs off false alarms after the danger has passed.

[switz]

Driving perpendicular to the weather movement is one way to get out of the way. However when on Interstates out West, that is usually not an option. But early morning news shows usually start chatting about the chances for tornadoes or severe weather. Start getting out of the area then.....

[yardstream]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Generally the lower you can get in a tornado situation the better. A ditch, a culvert or a low spot is safer if there is not a sturdy building available. It’s still a crap shoot. Tornadoes are very unpredictable and dangerous.

Flying or falling debris is the main hazard. Lived in Northern Alabama for many years. Had a below-ground shelter area in our basement and all the heavy tools, jacks, and survival gear in it to dig our way out afterwards.

Was still a very scary time when the weather got seriously dangerous.

Yeah, what rmkrum said. Stay alert, plan ahead, get low and/or get religion.


I lived in Chalybeate (Lawrence Co AL) when Apr 2011 tornadoes came thru. EF5s. 200mph winds traveling 60mph, pealing asphalt off the roads. And I thought if I saw one I would have time to seek shelter.
bg

[ibrianp]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

Glad your experience turned out OK!

My 34' Excella sat in Florida as hurricane Irma passed over in 2017. The trailer was passed directly over, less than a mile east of the eastern most edge of the eyewall. There was evidence of tornados nearby. The trailer did not move nor was there any major damage in ~100 mph winds. The damage nearby was amazing, and still being worked on today.

Since then I've thought about it a lot, "what would I do?" Would I rather be inside the trailer than inside a building during a direct hit tornado? I don't know! Building collapse and flying debris or take a ride in the trailer are two choices. If I had the time to make either of those choices, I think maybe I would get into the swimming pool instead. Next to the edge closest to the approaching tornado, where it is somewhat underground and somewhat protected from flying debris, I think would be better.

A swimming pool. What a great idea! After the lightening strike everyone left, can have a lovely people soup.
Hope it's a salt water pool. Add veggies.

[AirMiles]

Originally Posted by SewStream

I have a question - what about being out on the road, or camping where there is not a building/shelter? What to do if you are traveling on the road when a tornado warning is issued?

This has been on my mind, as I have been in tornados around me, but have always had a basement shelter, or ditch to get to. I know what the sky looks like when a tornado is likely to form. In fact, I just got a tornado warning weather alert for our S&B home base 1300 miles away from where we are! We are now on-the-road as full-timers, so this is a concern while traveling.

Last summer we were traveling in rural Southeastern Wyoming when our cellphone's EMS broadcast started reporting to take immediate cover as a tornado was approaching. We had no idea what to do. Luckily, in about two miles we came upon an overpass at I25 that was perpendicular to the approaching storm. When we first saw the overpass, there was no one underneath it. We had to make a U-turn to get on the side of the approaching storm. By the time we made the U-turn, others were ducking under the overpass. I had to ask one car if they could scoot ahead so I too could get our rig under the bridge. Thankfully, they agreed. Within a couple more minutes, there was no more room under the bridge. We all got out of our cars and had a great time discussing where we were from and where we were going. Basically, no one was local so no one knew what to do. We as a committee decided when we felt it was safe to leave as the storm passed just east of us. I was the last to leave - better safe than sorry with an Airstream.

When we got to our campground, about 20 miles away, we heard that the storm had passed directly overhead and there was hail. We were lucky that we hadn't made it to the campground and quickly found that overpass while there was still room to get under it.

My plan would be to get under an overpass. I've also sat out storms tucked up against a strong building (think Walmart). And one time in Texas I parked under a gas station awning as it was the best I could do on short notice. In Minnesota I got caught in a major hailstorm and could not get under an overpass because they were all full. My truck got about a dozen major hail dings, but my Airstream was parked a few miles away and was spared with only small hail and no damage. The backup plan is to have good insurance.

[Lily&Me]

There’s another thread here somewhere, where I recently posted a link from FEMA about safe places during tornadoes.

An overpass is NOT recommended, considered a “worst option”, and having lived in tornado country most of my life the danger is being sucked out from under there and tossed around like a matchstick.

I’ll see if I can find that link...

Maggie

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weath...oes-questions-

answered-tornado-season-arrives/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.5febc551be86

[FCloud9]

Great post and so glad you are all okay! We experienced one awful night Jan 2015 with an overnight at an Alabama State Park campground. We were not yet very experienced and headed south from east coast during winter snowbird trip. At near dusk check in the ranger reported heavy rains, thunder storms and potential tornados might roll through the area. Exhausted we quickly tuned in to local radio station as nontv reception or internet available and poor cell service. It was a scary night with very little sleep. The most frightening part was all the severe weather advisories and tornado warnings were broadcast with references to only the counties. We had no idea what county we were in and with limited resources and nearly empty campground our AA maps and Atlas were of no help. Our lessons learned: always ask at check in what county we're in and never hesitate to move on to safer areas such as nearby Walmart ( have heard many others seek refuge at Walmarts which often are open 24 hrs.). Fortunately, our only outcome from the nights storms we were surrounded by huge ponds of water but no damage to trailer or SUV. Rangers assisted with debris removal to assist our welcomed departure. Years later, we still try to avoid overnights in known tornado zones.

[kittmaster]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

There’s another thread here somewhere, where I recently posted a link from FEMA about safe places during tornadoes.

An overpass is NOT recommended, considered a “worst option”, and having lived in tornado country most of my life the danger is being sucked out from under there and tossed around like a matchstick.

I’ll see if I can find that link...

Maggie

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weath...oes-questions-

answered-tornado-season-arrives/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.5febc551be86

Bigger version of the image:

[Lily&Me]

There are weather apps for your smart phones that pinpoint your exact location, allow you to watch a storms progression, where you are in relation to it, and emit a powerful audio alert if you are in the path of dangerous weather.

I have RadarScope.

Lily and I evacuated to a cement bathhouse in Georgia a couple of years ago, sloshing thru ankle deep water to get there.

We were the only ones in there, but I saw a Class B owner in the site next to mine with his phone in his hand, watching the radar and apparently planning to wait until the last minute.

This storm went around us, but it was very close.

Maggie

[jcanavera]

I carry a portable weather radio that accepts the NOAA SAME codes for the areas that I stay in. I can preprogram up to 10 codes. I also note what channel the weather NOAA transmitter is using in the area I stay in. So before I leave, I'll go to each campground's information and find the county they are in, and then program those codes into the radio. That way if the radio goes off, I know for certain that the warning is for the area I am staying in. It's battery powered so even with loss of power, the radio is doing it's job, silently monitoring alerts but only signaling me when the alert is for the county where I am staying.

Jack

[Silver Comet]

I'm in California, so we don't see much in the way of tornadoes, just fires and earthquakes!

Regarding getting under an overpass to shelter against a tornado, I saw a program on the Weather Channel a few years ago where it was advised AGAINST that. It seems that the wind velocity actually increases substantially, sort of like water in a garden hose getting pushed through a spray nozzle.

Everyone out there stay safe!

[AirMiles]

Thanks Lily for the graphic. I still think the under the overpass was my best option. My choices were to sit in my vehicle with the Airstream attached in miles-and-miles of barren land or to sit under the overpass at the corner of WY-34 and I-25. With the storm quickly approaching from the north, I had absolutely no other choices. Under that scenario, I'd take under an overpass as I believe the most likely risk was hail damage.