We live in an earthquake zone. Mobi our C is parked in the driveway.
In the winter (non camping season for us) it has canned food, water and fuel (gas and propane), bedding, first aid supplies and more.
During camping season (coming up pretty quick) I stock it with clothing, extra foot wear (the kids are still growing, so no point in keeping over the winter), dry semi perishable food (rice, cereal, pasta, tetrapac juices milk etc) etc. I replace the toiletries and check the medicines for expiry dates.
It is not a perfect solution, but I know we are good for about a week if we conserve water and the sun charges the batteries.
The big concern where we live are bridges. If bridges are out we cannot get too far, but we will be warm dry and have full tummies.
Storm came through, 100,000 people without power for over 12 hours. Told my wife, no prob, started generator and we had power for our refrigerators and other needs. Was night time and I walked outside to sheer silence, except for OUR generator. That was eerie and scary. If a major event happens I do not want to be in the midst of thousands upon thousands of needy angry people.
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Well, at the very least, I hope you have discussed what to do if there is no way to communicate with each other. Cell phone networks, phone lines, etc.. are not hardened. One tornado, earthquake, widespread fire, hurricane, flood, explosion at a chemical plant, whatever and you're in a fix. It's comforting to know that if you can't get home and you can't contact your family you all know where the alternate meet location is. Don't wait for a crisis to try and have a plan.
Some years ago a local chemical plant literally exploded. A huge evacuation area was cleared. That was before cell phones but, people couldn't get home and didn't know if their loved ones were safe. They had no plan of where they would meet if they (1) couldn't go home (2) couldn't communicate. Perhaps I sound like a paranoid jerk but, I have seen it and been there. Now, we have a plan and an alternate plan if the first one is a no go. In fact, I created a plan that includes my family, my parents, and my brothers and sisters family. If the unthinkable happens we know exactly what to do. No panic involved.
I just offer this as a suggestion. I'm retired police. I was at work on 9/11. It got my attention.
I live twelve miles from the gulf and when a hurricane wipes my house off it's slab I will not be down at the FEMA line and I will not be living in a FEMA trailer. I have several places I have to go to which are all private a long with a long list of camp grounds. It gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside knowing I have a second home on wheels loaded with food, fuel, clothes and oh yeah, beer.
If it truly was a "national" emergency, where would you go?
We keep ours equipped just enough to live in just long enough in the event of a power outage at the hosue. Fortunately, the portable generator we have for the camper works quite well for the house. It's enough to keep the satalite TV operational, internet service up, the blower on the wood burning fireplace, the freezer, the refrigerator, and a couple low wattage lights. And yes, we've done this a few times. The longest was 3 days.
Power outages are probably a bigger threat than some kind of "national disaster" event. In the event of a "real" disaster, I think I'd rather just be blown away with the first explosion than have to attempt to live through the aftermath!
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We also use ours to escape in, if an emergency should arise. Living in Florida you just never know when a hurricane will hit. We keep all our impornant papers in a safe that we can take with us. It is on the precheck list for emergencies. Atleast with hurricanes you get some warning way ahead of time. We will never put out 2 zhu fur babies anywhere but with us. Like everyone else I always fill the tank up when every we return from camping. It is always ready to go.
We consider our Roadtrek our escape pod. When getting back from a trip, I always go fill it up with gas.
Fortunately, we've never had to use it to evacuate. But we have used it in the aftermath of 2 hurricanes. We lost power for 3 or 4 days. if we needed AC we'd just relocate to the van, and cut on the genny and run the AC.
This past fall, we lost power for several days due to a late season hurricane. This time, besides the long extention cord to the house refrigerator, I ran one to the big screen. I just popped in DVD's and watched them.
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I'm only talking about a temporary solution. We're fully self contained so, in a summer hurricane we could scoot out and have air and everything for three days. That's usually enough to get to a place with gas and power. Air is important for the pugs on a hot summer day. Plus, my wife's health isn't good so, the motorhome is ideal. If we can get a power hookup then we are good for a long time as long as we conserve water.
In a truly national crisis, all bets are off. I can't imagine what that would be and how it would play out.
When I was a police officer we had training on, among other things, sudden outbreaks of disease due either to natural or unnatural causes. If it happens on a large scale the priorities are "First responders first". Once FEMA has set up a command and operations center and treated the first responders then they will start treating civilians. That's most of us. The point is, that in a crisis you're own your own for a certain number of hours, but most likely days, depending on the size and nature of the crisis.
What I'm suggesting is that you think about it in advance. Remember the commercials on TV about building your bug-out-bag? They put those there for a reason. Don't kid yourself. It's not if a crisis is going to happen, it's when, where, what and who. You're sitting with the best bug-out-bag you can have, an RV. I would hope that those of us lucky enough to own an RV would be encouraged to react the instant that something occurs and respond effectively.
I remember in the early nineties we had this unexpected large snow storm. Power was out all over and, strangely enough, there was one gas station open. After several days it got uncomfortable because we weren't accustomed to being snowed in and without power. There was one gas station open. As the tanks began to run out of gas it began to look like a scene from the road warrior movie with constant yelling and fighting. That was a snow storm for crying out loud. What if it were something worse? Don't put yourself and your family in that position. It takes almost no effort at all.
pjhansman wrote: I feel so inadequate....I have never planned for that kind of emergency.
Of course, living in the Canadian wilderness, with no threat of flood, tornado, or hurricane, and with few people around to get civilly unrested,I figure that any emergency that would destroy my home would also destroy my 5ver.
I do, however, keep it all loaded up during camping season....so I guess that counts in case of a forest fire.
Ours is parked to close to the house at this time for my comfort but not other great options just yet.
We were without power for over a week during hurricane Irene. We had no water, nor waste water abilities. I sent the wife, kid, and dog to the inlaws, and stayed at the house in the popup. After that nightmare was over, I traded the pup for a hybrid.
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