Riding out the coming Hurricaine

[RayJr]

I guess you didn't see the pictures of what was left of the RV park in Texas. Oh wait I should have said the pile of junk RV's scrap. Get out of Dodge! Someone suggested you have your wife,??, take the rig and herself out of harms way and you stay and serve, food for thought.

[adamfolger]

OP is gone and we are preaching to the...wind

[MRUSA14]

I agree with the folks that say move out. There is still time take the coach to north Florida or Georgia, and drive back to Miami in your toad to face the storm and help people in need. If you delay, the chance to do this will disappear. Your coach will be much more likely to survive if you do this, and you will be much safer not being in the coach during the storm.

If the coach must ride out the storm, I should think the odds would be better if it is parked right next to a sturdy building that can act as a wind shelter if the wind direction is right. No way to know what direction the wind will be from, so any parking up against a building is probably as good as any other.

Whatever you decide, do not ride out the storm inside a flimsy coach. Your life is too important to do that.

[ladagobago]

State and local codes have strict guidelines for RV tie downs and if you don't have them installed you will loose.

Mobile homes and recreational vehicles are extremely vulnerable to hurricane force winds and severe weather. Statistics document that mobile homes and recreational vehicles (RVs) receive a disproportionate share of the damage from severe weather, and residents are far more likely to be injured or killed in these structures compared to site built homes.

Because of this vulnerability hurricane evacuation plans in Florida have called for the evacuation of all areas subject to potential storm surge (coastal flooding) and the complete evacuation of all mobile home / RV residents no matter where they are located within the county.

For example, in February 1998, a tornado destroyed many site-built homes, mobile homes and RVs in the Kissimmee/Orlando central Florida area. There were 42 people killed: 34 resided in mobile homes, 7 in RVs

Unless a structure is permanently attached to a foundation, there is no way to assume that the structure will remain “tied down” in hurricane force winds. With Florida’s climate, salt air and sandy soils, tie-down systems would not be expected to perform optimally without constant vigilance. Basically, residents of buildings without traditional structural foundations are more vulnerable to such wind speeds. In the South Florida region, this includes residents of substandard housing, mobile homes and visitors in recreational vehicles and travel trailers. Since hurricane force winds can extend inland many miles, all mobile home residents and travel trailer / RV visitors must be evacuated, regardless of their location in the region.

For a complete informational guide to emergency situational studies go to this link for details. Then move as fast as you can.
http://www.sfrpc.com/SRESP%20Web/Vol1-11_ChIV.pdf

[Old Crows]

Thank you Ladagobego!!!!!!!!!!!

The Executive Summary: Hurricane, tornado divorce .... Someone will loose an RV or double wide ......

[hilgert]

Originally Posted by meddiver

As a full timer, in Florida, we have a Hurricane coming our way, and I cannot leave as I am a first responder. So besides the obvious of trying to leave, what preparations should we make. Please do not tell us to leave, I have that part down.
We are in the middle of the state on a concrete pad.
I am going to bring in my slides, awnings and secure all of the hatches. Fill the tank with water and fuel up, so we can run for 3 or 4 days on generator if needed.
So my real question is, do we raise the jacks and fill the suspension or stay on the jacks, or leave the jacks down but fill the suspension, utilizing the jacks if we get pushed around?
Any other thoughts on preparation?

Let's not forget the original reason for this thread. Regardless of the OP's decision to not leave (see red above), or to move the motorhome (see red above), the request was to know what could be done to give the motorhome a chance.

I'm hoping of course that as a first responder the OP knows to not actually be "in" the motorhome when the hammer hits.

Miamicamper states it perfectly:

Originally Posted by Miamicamper

I am a RN here in Miami and I have the same issue. Of course my life is valuable but if every doctor or nurse left Miami then who would take care of the needy. Just because I have an RV does not give us first responders the right to leave. There are many times on major holidays and other disasters when I question why I chose the career I did, but then I see how we are needed in the community and it reassures me that I made the right choice. There are a lot of people like me that do not have the luxury of just leaving.

[scooterbob]

Get your butt out of there

[YC1]

Tired from some long slow traffic but there are lots of us in Alabama. Campgrounds are full of course. The owners of the one we are in are just amazing. They are doing a grocery run for folks without toads today.

I am talking to some neighbors to let them know I can use our toad as well.

We live between Tampa and Orlando.

Disney fans listen. This state has no food and no gas, which offers you this chilling challenge . To find a way out!

[bluepill]

Don't forget to secure external propane bottles and batteries. Some cargo straps would be appropriate.

[patpedsrn]

Originally Posted by Old Crows

Have you ever been in a Cat 3-4-5 hurricane before? Ever been within 50, 100, 150 miles of one? If the winds can topple an 18 wheeler..... they can topple your RV.... even if it is a DP. They can push ships ashore and completely Cuisinart buildings. Do you think you stand a chance in a flimsy RV????

Florida is as flat as a pancake. Then there's the accompanying heavy rains extending perhaps several hundred miles beyond the 'eye.' Just look at Harvey if you need some guidance on what to do. Sure that concrete pad is high and dry right now. Maybe not in the next week. And it's not the pad.... it is getting to or from the pad once things start to go sideways. One the rain starts.... you are D*O*N*E. Last thing you want to do is try to move your 'barn' in the middle of a big, fat nasty blow like Irma is expected to be.

All these suggestions are hypothetical and wishful thinking when it comes to hurricanes... or tornados. (Which also can spin up out of a hurricane....)
Mother does not care about you, yours, your stuff ....first responder or not.

Frankly, this is about 'preserving' options. Like a lot of things in life, you always have several options/choices in hand and you can pick and choose the best from them and develop new ones as time goes on. Regrettably, with major storms you don't have many options/choices..... and Mother is holding ALL the cards. You don't get to pick and choose. She does.

Ask the folks in SE Texas if, given the choices, would they have stayed or left?

My last point. You say you are a 'first responder' you have value ... whatever that may mean. If you are..... you need to get out, lagger in and wait till the conditions are right to return. You are no good to anyone injured. Only slightly valuable if you have the welfare of your 'stuff', house, spouse and pets on your mind instead of on your J*O*B. And then there's the burden of having to put you/yours up in a shelter after everything is wrecked. You are just another burden. Dead... you have zero value.

Being a responder is about making good judgement.... always. Exercise good judgement. Bail out. Find a place. Return when you can.

Batten down the hatches and head to the fire station you would respond from with your family. Stay there and work from there.

[ladagobago]

First Responder - how did your RV do in the storm? We are interested to hear the outcome of the decision to stay in Florida.