All it takes is one natural disaster, wildfire or other severe weather outbreak to ruin your next camping trip, or your life. Think about it: what if you were camping and suddenly faced evacuation orders, like the tens of thousands of California wildfire victims had to do recently? When the order is given to flee, is your RV zombie apocalypse proof?
When the zombies burn down the forest, will your RV be ready?
How to Make Your RV Zombie Apocalypse Proof
This article isn’t meant to be sensationalist. More than once I’ve had to escape a frightening force of nature, only it wasn’t zombies chasing us, it was nature. Most recently, we fled a wildfire. Here’s what I learned.
One day my husband and I were enjoying our mountain cabin retreat, and the next a power line transformer caught fire and launched us into hell. Dry beetle-kill pine trees exploded into flames as we fled down a bumpy mountain road with only our dog, truck and fifth wheel.
We hardly had time to pack anything more than our “important documents” box, computers, cell phones and wallets. When we made it down the mountain to safety, I realized that our RV was lacking any sort of provisions. No sheets, no food, no water in our tanks.
Keep your RV stocked or you may not have time to fill it during emergencies.
Sure, we had shelter and a bed, but because I emptied the RV when we moved into the cabin for summer, there was nothing else to survive on if things got worse. From that moment on I vowed to make my RV zombie apocalypse proof.
Don’t Be Caught Empty Handed
When the biggest Northern California wildfire in history ignited recently, many residents fled in their RVs. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, a number of them ended up at a nearby WalMart, unprepared for what lay ahead.
Abramson’s father, Al Abramson, had his camper van parked next to his son’s . . . The elder Abramson lives in Santa Rosa and also evacuated over the weekend, but when he and his 89-year-old mother got to Rohnert Park, they couldn’t find anywhere to eat because restaurants were closed. They grabbed yogurt at a gas station for breakfast. Then they looked for ice. None to be found. — “Exhaustion, frustration set in as evacuees flee fires and blackouts.“
If you must evacuate from a campground or even your home, chances are lots of other people are doing the same. This creates huge problems. Access to services, food and fuel will be in short supply.
However as RVers, we have the upper hand — as long as our rig is stocked. Whether or not you live as a full-time RVer like I do, or only use your RV on weekends, try to think of your RV as a giant life boat.
Eight Things You’ll Wish You Had in Your RV During a Disaster Evacuation
- Basic Toiletries. Toothpaste, toothbrush and a bar of soap go a long way to boost morale during an emergency.
- Cell phone power cables. Keeping your phone charged during an emergency is the key to staying informed.
- Clothing. One extra set of clothing and a jacket for each survivor will come in handy if the incident lasts more than one day.
- Copies of important documents. You may not have time to grab your “important documents” box like I did when we evacuated. Keep copies of your passport, drivers license and insurance policy numbers somewhere safe in the rig.
- Food. Non-perishable meal replacement bars, dehydrated and canned meals will work. Just make sure you keep a can opener on board! And don’t forget a few cans of pet food for the critters.
- Fresh water. If you live in a climate where you can keep at least a couple of days worth of fresh water in your tanks, do it. And if you don’t, consider leaving jugs of drinking water in your bathtub, just in case you need to bug out when your RV is winterized.
- Fuel. A full tank of gas for your RV and a generator is your ticket out of danger. Don’t be without it.
- Propane. You may want heat, or at least hot coffee in the morning, so always keep at least one full tank of propane on board.
What else?
This is just a short list of things that our rig is never without. My goal is to get others thinking about the best ways to not get caught empty-handed. Keeping a well-stocked rig is like having a “RV life boat” escape vehicle that can mean the difference between misery and basic comfort during the RV zombie apocalypse or other mayhem like a wildfire evacuation.
If you can think of any other emergency provisions to add, please comment below. Let’s all learn the smartest ways to stay one step ahead of emergencies and zombie apocalypse invasions.
Rene Agredano and her husband, Jim Nelson, became full-time RVers in 2007 and have been touring the country ever since. In her blog, Rene chronicles the ins and outs of the full-timing life and brings readers along to meet the fascinating people and amazing places they visit on the road. Her road trip adventures are chronicled in her blog at LiveWorkDream.com.
Add adequate amount of personal medications and pet meds to your go bag.
Fresh wipes are always useful for sanitation and as a emergency refresh.
Scan important documents and papers into a password protected flash drive.
Flashlights, headlamps and lanterns with plenty of batteries.
Thanks Peter. I didn’t even think of putting fresh wipes in our Go Bag. Gonna go do that now. Safe travels!
Batteries! 3 changes of batteries for each flashlight, and 2 flashlights for each person. They have new rechargeable ones that can be charged via usb cords. And solar systems are coming down in price and are a hell of quieter and cheaper than generators in the long run.
Your RV is a great thing to have if something forces you out of your home. Ours is generally stocked well. Our clothes and bedding generally are back in the trailer after they are washed when we return. We do not keep water in the fresh tank but generally have a case of bottled water aboard. We always have a few canned or dry food loaded. Solar is nice to have if gas is hard to find for the genny. I would also consider bringing a firearm.
Zack you are SET! Great job.
I keep all of my insurance documents on my computer and also use google cloud to store them. That way I can download the docs from my phone or any computer.
I have alternate ways of navigation available in my bug-out-bag (within the RV). That means paper maps to navigate when cell reception unavailable and major roads closed and I have no idea how to get out of the area. I also have a handheld GPS that I also have with national maps installed. I used to pilot small planes over remote areas and had a unit to help me walk out in case of emergency landing.
Blankets, down comforters, pillows.
Candels, solar lights, matches, lighters, lantern, rechargeable flashlights.
TP!!!
Laveo Dry Flush toilet with extra bags so no black tank emptying needed. Woohoo!
Cartons of coconut water
Deck of cards, a few board games
Dog bowls & kibble
Blank notebooks for writing, journaling & pens
Coloring books for adults & kids & colored pencils. Blank binders for those more artistic
Handi wipes to keep grunge at bay. Lavendar ones at whole foods
Diane your list is awesome! If I’m ever in an evacuation spot I want you as my neighbor 🙂
Thank Rene, I enjoy planning and being prepared weather its a dinner party or this subject.
I keep a current list of my medicines in my wallet. My wife and I also keep an “emergency supply” of cash in a secure location so we can pay for things. Many times the ATM won’t work due to no power. Try to have your Dr. provide you with a list of medicines on his script so you can obtain your medicines if you run out. If you use a breathing machine, make sure you have a 12v cord so you can use it in the RV. Also, carry a couple of inexpensive sleeping bags in case you have “guests”.
Cash in one dollar bills I don’t want to pay $5 for a $1 item because no one had change
These are great tips, thank you Harry!
good ones thanks for the additions
don’t forget the guns
We try to keep a case, 40 bottles of water from Costco in the rig plus 2/3 gallon jugs of water. plus enough non perishable food for 3-7 days. Always keep at least one 7.5 gal propane plus 5 gallon gas for generator. clothing tp and the necessary sanitary products. 14 days meds plus $$.
I’m not a ‘disaster-head per se, but a few things I do have include food (some MREs..) DISTILLED water (i can use for the RV batteries, my cpap or even cooking..) and spare AAA batteries (for flashlights.) I also have an emergency crank radio/flashlight/weather radio/phone charger. Binoculars, and a small backpacking stove, cooking pot and extra green 1lb propane bottles. If I do get too low on regular propane, I can use the small ones for emergency coffee.
There is lots of excellent advice in the posts above!
The list of necessities needed is long. The list of other things is longer.
To simplify, I always keep the RV stocked and ready to travel as much as possible. In spring and summer I keep fresh tank full. Batteries are always fully charged. Propane tanks are always full. Partial tanks are rotated through my gas grill at home.
In fall through spring I keep a parka inside even if I am going to Texas. A rain coat and sturdy shoes are essential. You never know where you are going to end up or what the weather will be in a crisis.
You can try to over think the situations. Areas in Wisconsin have had week long winter power outages once in the past thirty years. But when Covid came along we were suddenly looking at three months of disaster. Could we anticipate surviving 3 months?
And then it changed. After 2 weeks, essential services resumed. You can’t know what is next. Be prepare for a general response for as long as possible and still not interfere with your current life.
There are many “dried” foods in most of our lives. Macaroni, spaghetti, raisins, make quick easy meals when paired with canned things. Of course water for cooking is essential.
The best foods for “prepping” are foods you use regularly and can periodically rotate through your reserve stock.
Keep dried foods in sealed rodent proof containers. Even if you don’t have rodents at home, you never know what you will find when you bug out.
I also keep a pair of portable hand held radios with batteries in a plastic bag. Communication in a crisis can be suddenly wiped out. An emergency weather radio adds to the stored items.
Check out “prepping” websites. Apart from exotic conspiracy theories, there are endless strategies. One is bound to fit your life style.
I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!
Ooooh see I think you would need clothing line a wash basin and possible a wringer for laundry purposes. And batteries and perhaps some solar powered goodies like lanterns flashlights hand crank radios that have charging capabilities. Also having a small safe with a cash box is a must. Another happy item to have is two way radios or extra cell phones in case you just need to go and communications are still up.