While you may not always think about it, there are a number of ways in which your whole world could turn upside down in a few moments. Whether it’s a fire from an electrical malfunction or a wildfire, you may find very quickly that you need a temporary home if yours is no longer inhabitable. This is where owning an RV comes in handy. An RV can make a great emergency home as long as it’s ready for an emergency. This will mean some steady preparation and making sure you and your family always know what to do should the moment arise. To help you out, Airstream of Montana has provided some of the basics for getting your family and your RV ready for an emergency scenario.
If you would like to buy your own RV, for emergencies and for fun camping trips, stop by our location in Missoula, Montana. We proudly serve the areas of Bozeman and Kalispell, Montana.
Your Emergency Plan
Start by making sure you have some sort of plan in place. This will be particularly helpful if you have time to prepare before disaster strikes, like if you know a wildfire is headed your way. Also keep in mind that for natural disasters, you will still need to adhere to all evacuation notices as your RV is only designed to help you get away from the disaster, but will not protect you from it.
At the front of your list of concerns should be where you’re going to end up staying for the first night and beyond. If you need your RV for a sudden, isolated emergency, like a house fire, hopefully you’ll still be able to find a campsite to spend the night at. You may also want to call your friends and family for help, but you may want to have your RV ready for boondocking, or camping without any electrical or sewer hookups.
Evading a natural disaster will make finding a place to stay more difficult. You won’t be the only one using their RV as an emergency secondary home and they’ll all need a place to park their RV. If you can, try to reserve your campsite in advance. If you need to reserve a couple of campsites on your way to your final destination, keep that in mind as well. Even if the natural disaster doesn’t initially threaten your home, it’s a good idea to reserve a campsite just in case things take a turn for the worse.
Everyone has a Job
The next step is to make sure there’s a plan in place for what to do when it’s time to go. Assuming you have some time before you need to leave, consolidate the amount of time you spend loading last minute items by assigning everyone in your household a task. This may mean one person is in charge of pets, one person grabs the medication, one person secures the house, and so on. This cuts down on the amount of time you spend trying to leave and it relieves some of the stress off from you. Make sure each job is appropriate for each person, so don’t give children anything complicated or potentially dangerous. And to make sure everyone remembers every step of the plan, practice the emergency evacuation plan once a month.
Prepare your RV for Emergencies
You’ll also want to make sure your RV is ready for emergencies. A breakdown on the side of the road is not only frustrating and stressful, but it can be dangerous if you haven’t cleared the emergency situation. Make sure you’re taking your RV in for regular maintenance checks and promptly repairing any repairs that your RV needs. You’ll also want to make sure your fuel tank is full, your oil is fresh and topped off, and that your tires are ready for the long haul. You’ll also want to empty the black and gray water tanks and fill the fresh water tank.
RV Emergency Kit
One final way to prepare your RV and cut down on emergency chores is to keep it stocked and ready to be a temporary home. This will mean enough food and water for at least a week, including what you’ll need for your pets. We suggest non-perishable items and freeze-dried foods as much as possible. You’re also going to want to make sure the propane tanks are full and that you have access to a battery-powered or hand-crank radio so you can stay informed should the power go out. You may also want to consider bringing along extra gas, especially if you’ll be traveling in more than one vehicle. Emergency kits are a good idea in the event you can’t reach a fully stocked grocery store for some time. This will include a first aid kit, basic toolkit, and anything else your family may need. Just make sure your supplies will last for at least a week.
Another consideration you’ll want to think about is that you may not have time to grab all your supplies and your house may not be in the same condition as you leave it. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure you have copies of all important documents on your RV at all times. This should include birth and marriage certificates, vehicle registrations, insurance policies, ownership papers, financial records, and any other important documents that you’ll want to save or may need in the future. If you can’t grab the originals, having copies in your RV will be an important backup.
Luckily, most of us here in Montana don’t have to worry about fleeing our homes and can weather most storms without taking drastic measures. But it’s always important to prepare for the worst. With an RV, that preparation gets a little easier. If your RV needs a little maintenance or if you’d like more advice on how to prepare your rig for a natural disaster, then stop by Airstream of Montana in Missoula, Montana. We welcome all RV owners from Bozeman and Kalispell, Montana.
