Three RV Evacuation Tips That Can Save Your Life
Want to survive a natural disaster? A bug out bag ready to go in your RV is both a prudent and necessary step for staying alive.
As I write this post, there are weather emergencies occurring all over the nation. Two tropical storms, Laura and Marco, have come bearing down on the Gulf Coast. They already caused widespread damage. Wildfires are still raging across California, Oregon, and Washington State.
If you need to leave your RV on a moment’s notice, you will want to have a bug out bag easily accessible and ready to go. But that’s not the only thing you need.
First, You Need a Campsite Evacuation Emergency Plan
Create an evacuation protocol that every member of your family understands. Everyone in your party must be able to execute the plan.
What if you have to leave your RV? It happens all the time. The next best thing is to be able to take your car or truck and seek safety by driving out of the danger zone. But in some cases, you may not even be able to use your car or truck. That’s when a bug out bag (a go-bag stocked with survival gear) could save your life.
Next, be prepared to walk to safety
The road out of your campsite might be washed out in a flash flood that may also be threatening your RV and you might need to seek higher ground on foot. This is particularly true in the case of an earthquake or tsunami, since many of the roads out of the danger zones traverse the countryside along the very waterways that will be affected by the tsunami, and bridges may be destroyed in an earthquake. Hiking to higher ground may be your only escape.
You may need to hike with your bug out bag, so be mindful of the weight. Photo by P. Dent
The Ultimate RV Bug Out Bag List
Having a bug out bag with essential gear will give you a better chance of surviving until help arrives. We recommend packing:
- Tarps
- Bungie cords
- Matches
- Firestarters
- First-aid supplies
- Dried food
- Water purification tablets
- A sharp knife
- A sweatshirt, gloves, warm cap, and rain gear, for every member of your family
I also suggest having cash on hand. You might not want to put cash in your go-bag but having it in a ready to grab-and-go location in your RV will save you time.
We keep extra survival gear in the spare tire compartment in our tow car. Other things include sleeping bags, heavy coats, and several cans of food stowed under the front seat. Our survival is not dependent on the tow car. We also have tarps, warm clothes, and rain gear. We keep them in the go-bags, if we have to leave on foot.
Remember that if you’re not accustomed to strenuous hiking, the more you put in the bag, the harder it will be to carry. If you have to also carry supplies for small children, or an elderly relative, or your pets, the need for thoughtful planning of the contents is even more evident.
Popular Youtuber Canadian Prepper shared their top 13 bug out bag essentials in the video below:
Hope for the best but prepare for the worst RV disaster
We pray that we’ll never have to use any of these supplies, but it is a comfort to know we already have them ready to go and that we’re prepared. The idea of leaving our motorhome behind is difficult to even think about. But it’s naive to ignore the fact that life-threatening events occur somewhere almost every day, and leaving the RV behind may someday be necessary.
It’s not worth losing your life over nostalgic feelings for your RV or because you didn’t take the time to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Your RV and everything in it can be replaced and there may come a day when you need to leave it behind, with the knowledge that you may never see it again. It’s sad to think about that, but the alternative of losing your life because you weren’t prepared is even harder to think about.
A rainbow promise after a storm
A little planning may save your life
If you’re a full-time RVer, I beg you to get serious about a sudden emergency. What would it take to survive in a remote location without the comfort and safety of your RV?
Have a plan. Outfit your backpacks with essential survival equipment. Stash some cash, put your go-bags in an accessible location. Download weather apps and turn on notifications. Then, be mentally prepared to make a quick exit either in your RV, in your vehicle, or on foot. Be determined to do what’s necessary to survive. Having a bug out bag increases your odds. Consider these essential Survival Tools, too.
Peggy Dent is an author, writer, and full-time RVer, traveling around the US and Canada. She’s traveled more than 130,000 miles in a motorhome, over the past 20 years, and is currently writing for the RV industry. You can contact her through her website at  www.APenInYourHand.com
I think many people are confused to what they truly need in a Go Bag. Many over pack and that’s a problem because they won’t be able to carry it for long distances. Think of a Go Bag as something to help you get somewhere else. Good planning figure is 3-days. I came across a pretty good Go Bag presentation on youtube by GreyBeardedGreenBeret. Here is a link to his website and his presentation on preparing a Go Bag. A bag this size and weight is pretty close to ideal. You may have to adjust a bit due to climate conditions, but all the essentials are there.
This is a very good. Now I need to get a bag together. Thank you very helpful.