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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / November 2005Preparedness
Has anyone in this newsgroup any experience with using the RV as a portable apartment mentioned else where for evacuation from a disaster? If so, could you share your insight into prepping the vehicle/s and considerations for planning. Thanks, Philip > Has anyone in this newsgroup any experience with using the RV as a > portable [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Thanks, > Philip Same as going on any other RV adventure. Take what you need. Think ahead. Bring the essentials and TRY not to load up with fluff. Make sure your vehicle is serviced and road ready at a moment's notice. Past that, you just have to wing it and adjust as you go along. HTH STeve You need a generator (s) and fuel or access to fuel for the duration. You need access to water supplies. You need to have a way to empty your tanks if you are not connected to sewage. An onboard washer dryer would be especially nice if you were in an area not convenient to Laundry Facilities. You can take an adequate supply of just about everything else with you if you have an average say 32 ft Fifth Wheel or Travel Trailer and live comfortably for quite a while. Has anyone in this newsgroup any experience with using the RV as a portable apartment mentioned else where for evacuation from a disaster? If so, could you share your insight into prepping the vehicle/s and considerations for planning. ___________________________________________________ No special preparation needed, except a full tank of gas. Leave early and get far, far away from the disaster area; to another state, if possible. If you try to camp out anywhere near ground zero, you will be fighting for food, water, sewer availability, gasoline, electricity, high ground and security. Rodan. >Has anyone in this newsgroup any experience with using the >RV as a portable apartment mentioned else where for >evacuation from a disaster? > >If so, could you share your insight into prepping the vehicle/s >and considerations for planning. Hi Phillip, Maybe I need more coffee but I don't really understand why you're asking that. Isn't it sort of obvious. Water in the water tank, fuel in the gas tank, full propane tanks.... non perishable food in the cupboards. Good tires. All the stuff you would want if there wasn't a disaster. Hunter -- http://members.aol.com/hhamp5246/roadtrip2005.htm Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh.t...what a ride!" >>Has anyone in this newsgroup any experience with using the >>RV as a portable apartment mentioned else where for [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Hunter Find myself in agreement with Hunter. Additionally one needs to give thought to those items one has to buy, do you want to have to fight others during the panic to wait and buy, or have such things like fuel and food stuffs already on hand. I never put the MH away without fuel and propane and I don't fill the water tank until I'm ready to pull away. The MH also serves as a secondary food pantry here at home. Mickey >>>Has anyone in this newsgroup any experience with using the >>>RV as a portable apartment mentioned else where for [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Mickey Last year we finished remodeling our kitchen, living room, and family rooms which adjoin, and were made into one BIG room in the process. The redo was to take four months. It took TEN. In that time, we cooked and ate in the MH which is parked by our back door. All kitchen items, foodstuffs, and utensils were in boxes for ten months. If you ever do a remodel, DO NOT remove your sink. If you have to leave it where it is on sawhorses, DO NOT remove it. We could have had it a lot easier had we kept the sink until the last moment. Motorhomes come in useful in these situations. We also have guests that like to stay in our motorhome, as well as a place for rowdy teens and adventurous ten year olds. (It's fun to go out late at night and screech fingernails on the side or hit the hitch with a hammer.) Steve You are correct Hunter. The obvious is now obvious to me also. For the past 12 years I have been maintaining EQ kits for my family. I was following the standard obvious preparations from FEMA, Homeland security, ORNL,CDC, military, local EMS, multiple healthcare facilities, police,& Fire department, state EMS, highway patrol as well as other sources suggested by security agencies at my places of employment. Each has common items mentioned, with some/a few variations. The most helpful and practical resources have been from sources which have used skills daily or frequently practiced drills using resources, materials, and techniques. I am obviously a novice to RoVeing and am still learning from fellow travelers and value their experience and knowledge. I ask forbearance of my ignorance. The broader knowledge base a community has and effectively communicates and shares within that community obviously makes it stronger. It is obvious no one person can know it all and it is obviously intimidating to one who knows little about a subject of interst and safety. I obviously avoid reinventing the wheel. The recent history from this past summer indicated to me some municipalities have been spending federal funds appropriated for maintaining federal water ways were misappropriated and not spent on the details such as upgrading the levies, etc. I don't expect ANY assistance from FEMA until the local level knows what it is doing. I live in major city which is on the New Madrid Fault, It created Reelfoot lake in 1811 when the epicenter of the quake was near New Madrid, MO caused the Mississippi River to flow river, damaged the buildings in St. Louis, and caused the church bells to chime as far away as Boston (as in Massachusetts-Dr. Richter had not been born yet). The integrity and character of our city government is on par with the locals in NO, if not more so, obviously, no assistance from local guberment do I expect. To paraphrase an ancient sage, it is wise to seek the counsel of many to assure success. There is a greater than 94% change of another quake the magnatude or greater than the 1811. I do not expect my home to survive, but I plan my family being safe. So, obviously this is not just casual question, but a sincere request for hearing other experience from those wiser than myself in this area. I appreciate your comments. PC > >Has anyone in this newsgroup any experience with using the > >RV as a portable apartment mentioned else where for [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, > but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh.t...what a ride!" Philip, One of the interesting things about the New Madrid quake was the generation of thixotropic gells in the moist lands along the Mississippi. When this solid mud jiggles it turns into a much more liquid phase. During the quake, entire buildings were swallowed up in the mud. I have no idea how to protect onself or ones RV from that kind of event. Otherwise, Hunter's advice of being ready to go anywhere is probably good advice. You might also consider use of an RV outfitted with 4-wheel drive and wide tires and with a winch to aid in escape and for traveling damaged roadways. I might also go out and fill the propane tank (down to 1/4) and put in some bottles of water and canned food. Everything else is ready, but no winch and no fat tires (another thought). John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee (Somewhat away from New Madrid) > You are correct Hunter. The obvious is now obvious to me also. For the > past 12 years I have been maintaining EQ kits for my family. I was [quoted text clipped - 64 lines] > > sh.t...what a ride!" John, Plasticization of the silt is one variable which will remain an unknown until an actual event, and of course the extent and implications will depend upon magnitude, distance from epicenter, as well as other variables. I anticipate my current home to be a complete loss and consider a 5er to be a life raft IF something doesn't fall on it, it should weather the event (IF the soil doesn't plasticize to the extent of becoming like quick sand and sink -I found no reports of this phenomenon occurring). The suspension and construction will be more likely to with stand the mechanical stresses the tremors. Using the trailer as an on going pantry is a great idea and will force me to "rotate my stock". I realize there is no known reliable technique to accurately predict a seismic event in time for folks to evacuate as with the recent hurricanes. Also the after shocks would be a consideration. West Coast geology is so different, I'm not sure how much to extrapolate my cousin's in that region experiences. My primary goal is mitigation of as many forseeable consequences of the event as possible and (Lord willing) to avoid being among the mass of evacuees trapped on the road. The interstate routes will be totally useless across the Mississippi River, New Madrid is to our North (Memphis) and will most likely be near the epicenter. (it just depends on where the opposing tectonic plates of the fault let go) so Highways to the north will be unusable. The interstate and state highways to the east would be blocked in spite the over pass upgrades which have been and are being implemented. Plan A1 is to shelter in place using what can be salvaged from the rubble of the house to make it as comfortable as possible while we rebuild. Plan A2 is to book it outta here if the roads are passable to the East, so if I roll into Knoxville one day after Memphis is leveled I'll say "Hey, J.A.!!" Plan B1 is to move to the other end of the state which will have different seismic concerns with less silt. This is getting my creative thoughts stimulated! Thanks for the in put! PC > Philip, > [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] > > > > PC > There is a greater than 94% change of another quake >the magnatude or greater than the 1811. I do not expect my home to survive, >but I plan my family being safe. So, obviously this is not just casual >question, but a sincere request for hearing other experience from those >wiser than myself in this area. I was in a quake this summer, not as large as you're saying, but a 5.0 is still a quake. I happened to be at an oil change place when it happened... I remember thinking I wish I was in my trailer... where safer? Things won't fly around, the trailer is built to get bumped around. If you're in the house when the quake hits are you sure you'll all get out safely? Hunter -- http://members.aol.com/hhamp5246/roadtrip2005.htm Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh.t...what a ride!" Our family has practiced what we should do in a quake type event-stay away from windows, try to stay in the door frame, don't jump under desks but try to make it to the "holes" which will form at areas in the rubble along walls, when ceilings collapse (stay away from the center of the room "crush zone"), try to be outside ;), etc. Its has been a long time (1975-75?) since Memphis had a tremor which was noticable, and it was only ~3.7, no dramatic damge, but some cracked walls and foundations of homes. Glad you understand my thinking about the desireablity and survivability in an RV. I'm just trying to eliminate as many variables as possible and mitigate as many known possiblities. Lostsa folks in Memphis don't wanna hear about the reality of the quake-The Chicken-little/Noah syndrome? The city leadership just wanna go through 'de motions fo' political leverage-I've visited the FEMA headquarters here in Memphis, -in the BASEMENT of the 1963 era Federal building surrounded by buildings no less than 14 stories all 40 to 50 years old. Even our senator and congressmen don't hang there. Like the streets of Berlin 1945-great for door to door urban defense, not so cool for coordination and control of rescue and rebuilding several hundred square miles of devastation. At this point in time, looks like the west Tennessee boys are gonna depend on Nashvillle to bail them out and blame FEMA for the destruction. I appreciate your point about the house being safe as possibleand safe exit-the water heater is secured by 3 lengths of 3/8" rope bolted to a 6x6 secured with 3/8' lagg bolts to the rafter, ceiling areas over the bed rooms are reinforce with 3/4' ply wood, the chimney has been braced and designed to fall out away from the house, we have practised exit route via windows as well as doors fire and earthquake, our gas service has an automatic shut off valve for a quake, the 5er ready for improptu, spontaneous week-end trips to near by state parks. Thanks again, PC > I was in a quake this summer, not as large as you're saying, but a 5.0 > is still a quake. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, > but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh.t...what a ride!" Did I hear you say full tanks including propane? > Has anyone in this newsgroup any experience with using the > RV as a portable apartment mentioned else where for [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Rodan. I see where "Philip Campbell" <philcamp@midsouth.rr.com> contributed: >Has anyone in this newsgroup any experience with using the RV as a portable >apartment mentioned else where for evacuation from a disaster? For many years we have kept our rv ready for use, and on one occasion lived in it for 6 months while we evacuated our house after a fire. We didn't have to leave town, but easily could have. Will Sill The Curmudgeon of Sill Hill Don't forget your important papers! Everything else is like camping. Just did it in Naples, FL...... I see where "Philip Campbell" <philcamp@midsouth.rr.com> contributed: >Has anyone in this newsgroup any experience with using the RV as a portable >apartment mentioned else where for evacuation from a disaster? For many years we have kept our rv ready for use, and on one occasion lived in it for 6 months while we evacuated our house after a fire. We didn't have to leave town, but easily could have. Will Sill The Curmudgeon of Sill Hill Assuming you'll be driving it somewhere 'else' before living in it, you'll want a basic kit of tools for 'regular' or emergency travel. A good ERS is nice, but don't count on them in an evac situation. The tools should cover both chassis and house repair. What you'd select for this will depend to a large extent on _your_ level of DIY skill, but you may suddenly 'develop' unexpected skills in an emergency, so don't limit yourself too much. ;-). Spare chassis fluids, maybe a few spare parts (take-off fan belt, one long plug wire & one sparking plug, fuel filter, fuses, etc), depending again on your skills. Jumper cables and maybe a tow strap. Also a shovel (small & folding, maybe), a hatchet or small axe, levelling blocks, jack & lug wrench (for smaller units, anyway). Not essential, but a cheap torque wrench & the necessary lug sockets and cheater, if you're torque-obsessed. Tire gage. Regional maps or a road atlas, and GPS. Some (much?) entertainment, for all members of the crew, like DVD's, books, games. Spare batteries for remotes & flashlights, and cell phone and maybe camera chargers. An old laptop & 12V power supply, with USB cable to do internet via cell phone. Weather radio. Condoms? A few day's meds, including sleeping pills & OTC stuff. Hidden cash? Spare underwear, toilet paper, and paper towels. Hooded rain jackets for all. It all depends on how prepared you want to be.... I don't live in an likely evac zone, and I've still got all this and more in a Class B van, in addition to 'normal' kitchen stuff, food, toiletries, and season / destination appropriate clothes. Jim, "Entropy never sleeps; do y'all?" The above address is invalid; send email to fesser at same domain name. http://community.webtv.net/IronDuff/SpringBreak http://community.webtv.net/a968/ContinentalDivide http://community.webtv.net/a968/TennentMountain My tendency is to way over pack and over max out the load rating-the Boy Scout in me I guess, "be prepared" and redundent back-up systems.Yes ! Thanks, James PC > Assuming you'll be driving it somewhere 'else' before living in it, > you'll want a basic kit of tools for 'regular' or emergency travel. A [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > http://community.webtv.net/a968/ContinentalDivide > http://community.webtv.net/a968/TennentMountain >My tendency is to way over pack and over max out the load rating-the Boy >Scout in me I guess, "be prepared" >and redundent back-up systems.Yes ! H again Phillip, Remember a quake where you live isn't a 'national disaster" meaning once you all are safely on the road you can get stuff everywhere you go once you are away from the disaster site. You don't need to pack too much IOW. Hunter -- http://members.aol.com/hhamp5246/roadtrip2005.htm Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh.t...what a ride!" Re: Preparedness Group: alt.rv Date: Thu, Nov 3, 2005, 8:31am From: HHamp5246@aol.com >Remember a quake where you live isn't a > 'national disaster" meaning once you all are > safely on the road you can get stuff > everywhere you go once you are away from > the disaster site. With due respect that's fine, _if_ you can get away from where you live. In a New Madrid-size 'quake, I wouldn't count on the road net being intact. One could find bridges and overpasses down, pavement fractured, etc. Any traffic that is 'moving' could be stuck in massive jams on the few routes out available. It may also be a ways to the nearest 'functional' area, and I'd expect that might be quickly overrun & stripped temporarily of necessities. Honestly, if I was worried about this kind of disaster, I'd want to stock my RV with 5 - 10 days of 'iron rations': MRE-style stuff if you're worried about short-term balanced nutrition, or maybe oatmeal, soup, oriental noodles, etc. if you're worried more about filling bellies. But that's just one opinion... Jim, "I know it's true; I read it on the Internet!" ... Hey, Hunter, Good point! Hopefully I can fall back to Plan B1 and make it beyond the city limits before the road way is impassable. Philip D. > H again Phillip, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Hunter >Hey, Hunter, > >Good point! Hopefully I can fall back to Plan B1 and make it beyond the city >limits before the road way is impassable. > >Philip D. We here in Phoenix, Arizona are way ahead of the curve. Our city officials got together and went through various potential disasters which could befall our area. These include nuclear (power plant) mishaps, flood (upstream dams breached), earthquake (hey, it could happen) and others too extreme to imagine. we have 2 freeways in the Phoenix area. I-17 (N-S) and I-10 (E-W). There are also some feeder highways that can take one from harms way. After all the considerations were in and alternatives were evaluated, they came up with a perfect disaster plan... . . . . . . Walk out of harms way! Yes, folks, walk! Are our city people on top of thinks or what? Dear Unk, Is that with or without full field gear? I'll see your city planners and raise you 5 Memphis City councilmen. PC > >Hey, Hunter, > > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Walk out of harms way! Yes, folks, walk! Are our city people on top > of thinks or what? Yesss!! SLapp!-(sound of hand on forehead) Thank-you! So many bean head scammers trying to pass themselves off as evacuees from the coast, gotta have ID and other documentation. Thanks, PC > Don't forget your important papers! > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Will Sill > The Curmudgeon of Sill Hill Will Sill (I love perfect ryhme!) I'm sure cramped quarters! What would ya'll have done differently if you were to have to do it again, if anything? Thanks, PC > For many years we have kept our rv ready for use, and on one occasion > lived in it for 6 months while we evacuated our house after a fire. > We didn't have to leave town, but easily could have. > > Will Sill > The Curmudgeon of Sill Hill I see where "Philip Campbell" <philcamp@midsouth.rr.com> has given a great deal of thought to earthquakes. In response to my comment that: >> For many years we have kept our rv ready for use, and on one occasion >> lived in it for 6 months while we evacuated our house after a fire. >> We didn't have to leave town, but easily could have. PC, top-posting, asked: >I'm sure cramped quarters! What would ya'll have done differently if you >were to have to do it again, if anything? Nothing. But I have some free and sincere advice: If you genuinely believe that a devastating quake is due to destroy the area where you live (you might be right, of course), then the only really logical thing to do is move NOW to a lower-risk area. Of all the people who survived Katrina & Rita, those who came out the very best did so by selling out BEFORE the inevitable devastation. Second best: those who developed and implemented a plan to escape just ahead of the Big One with their lives, some survival goods, and valuable papers. Third: those caught in the middle of the carnage whose very lives are dependent on rescuers climbing through the damaged infrastructure to get them to shelters and handouts. Even if their rv was ready to go hours earlier. Q: If you lived in the shadow of Mt. Ranier, would you move, stock yer rv, and/or wait for the Big Blow? Will Sill "Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." Wm. Penn Friend Will Sill, I appreciate your candor. The Katrina, Rita and Wilma events are have confirmed much of what I had suspected might result because most local municipalities apparent lack of concern for disaster planning. The events of this past hurricane season has only reinforced my resolve to follow up on your advice. I have to admit that the Tennessee and Mississippi River Valleys are silted catchments for thousands of years and would be a trap in the event of a high magnatitude quake so I am leanign toward leaving the area of my youth and relocate teh family to higher, more stable ground. Until then, I will keep the RV primed and ready. Thanks for everyones input. These exchanges helped me to confirm and validate my thoughts. PC > But I have some free and sincere advice: If you genuinely believe > that a devastating quake is due to destroy the area where you live [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > "Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by > tyrants." Wm. Penn I see where "Philip Campbell" <philcamp@midsouth.rr.com> contributed: >I appreciate your candor. The Katrina, Rita and Wilma events are have >confirmed much of what I had suspected might result because most local [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Until then, I will keep the RV primed and ready. Thanks for everyones input. >These exchanges helped me to confirm and validate my thoughts. Moving away from an area known to be at high risk would seem to be a wise move. Having said that, it impossible to choose a location guaranteed to be "safe" from forseeable calamities. Examples include the rare but deadly tornado attacks occurring in places well away from "tornado alley". You may well avoid earthquakes, but still find yourself subject to unexpected flooding, fires, dust storms, blizzards, and of course random man-made disasters. Thoughtful consideration of potential calamities does not, IOW, guarantee your safety. Will Sill The Curmudgeon of Sill Hill I am sorry to hear about your paranoia. You have my sympathy for living under the fear of losing your family daily. Hank <~~thinks Mr. Campbell has issues > I am sorry to hear about your paranoia. You have my sympathy for living > under the fear of losing your family daily. I've been thinking the SAME thing since the second article. > Hank <~~thinks Mr. Campbell has issues JR <~~KNOWS he has issues Survivalist Checklist: Stockpile food Stockpile water Stockpile ammunition Done > Survivalist Checklist: > > Stockpile food > Stockpile water > Stockpile ammunition > Done Too complicated. Instead: Stockpile arms and ammunition Compile addresses of survivalists Done Ron K > Too complicated. Instead: > > Stockpile arms and ammunition > Compile addresses of survivalists > Done Do you stockpile the first as defense against the second? In article <-4adnfwHW61rx_PenZ2dnUVZ_smdnZ2d@comcast.com>, "Ron K" <ronk@comcast.net> wrote: > > Stockpile food > > Stockpile water > > Stockpile ammunition > > Done > Too complicated. Instead: > > Stockpile arms and ammunition > Compile addresses of survivalists > Done > Do you stockpile the first as defense against the second? I think you have it backassward. I suspect he is advocating stockpiling the first as OFFENSE against the second! :) JR > I think you have it backassward. > > I suspect he is advocating stockpiling the first as OFFENSE against the > second! Sounds like the plot to "A Boy and His Dog". |
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