Tornado Advice

[Sagegal]

Hey All,

Getting ready to head out on a 9000 mile cross country adventure, never done this before and while I've gained much insight reading these posts I was wondering if anyone had any tornado advice....for example if I'm enroute somewhere and a twister is spotted where do I go an under pass, a storm drain? I worry about these types of things.
Thanks.

Sagegal

[AlmostThere]

I'm sure you'll get some great advice from the other gals, too, here are some websites that address that issue:

http://rvbasics.com/rv-lifestyle/RVers- ... nados.html

http://rvbasics.com/rv-lifestyle/RVers- ... nados.html

The gals have also discussed asking your campground if they have shelter/warning in case of a tornado.

[Mollysmom]

Good articles Lenora, thanks for the links.
I'd also like to suggest having a "grab and go" bag - if you're traveling with pets have a leash and/or carrier close by the door - be sure they have ID - have some of their food and some fresh water in the bag, that way if you have to make a run for shelter you won't waste time looking for carriers, leashes etc. It's good to have some of your own things in a bag too - a couple days of medication, extra pair of glasses, some fresh water, maybe a snack bar or something like that, have your emergency contact info with you and a charged up cell phone.
Don't stay with your RV and don't try to out drive a tornado - it'll win !! "They" say if you're on the road to get out and lay in a ditch - they also say an underpass isn't a good idea because the wind will swirl around in there - I don't know what I'd do !! Of course I'm usually listening to XM radio so I don't hear the weather so when I'm on the road I have no idea what's going on ! I do watch the clouds and if they look "tornado-y" I try to find a local station.
I find the best way to deal with something scary is to run around flailing my arms and screaming curse words, but that's just me !!

[Orchid]

Trudi, the only difference in our approaches to tornadoes is that I'd have my arms over my head while running around in the circle.

[Acadianmom]

Trudy has some good advice. I try to watch some kind of weather everyday so I'll know if there is something I should watch out for. There are also battery operated weather radios and some CB's have a weather channel. The only problem is if you are not familiar with an area you will have trouble knowing where the bad weather is. They will be talking about counties more than cities. I have wondered if I could get out of a dry RV and get in a wet ditch. Guess if I saw a tornado coming I could.

Martha

[VickieP]

I sure hope I'm never anywhere around Trudy when there's a tornado coming. I'd probably forget all about it, trying to chase her down and hog tie so her flapping arms don't do more damage than the tornado.

[mitch5252]

Hey All,

Getting ready to head out on a 9000 mile cross country adventure,

I have no advice for tornados in an RV (sorry), but I'm curious - what route(s) are you planning, if any?

Bangor, Maine to San Francisco is just a little over 3,000 miles. So, double that to 6,000.
Hmmm, I guess putting it that way, 3,000 'additional' miles doesn't sound out of line.

I went back to check your blog and noted the link is missing.
How long do you plan to be gone?
You'll probably take a north bound route one way and the southern return?

Good luck and travel safe!

ON EDIT: I see you'll be gone 6 weeks.

.

[Bethers]

No one likes what I say - I basically ignore them. Now, I don't TRY to be in their paths - and if I think a tornado is heading where I was heading, I might change direction. But if I'm already there - I bunker down in the rv and if it's my time - sobeit. Ah, sorry, I know that's not what you wanted to hear. But I lost a friend to a tornado when in my teens - and they had done everything right. So, while I watch the weather - and last year when in hurricane country, I did evacuate - even tho a few of my friends didn't - but I don't overdo it. Mother Nature and I don't quibble. I just ask her to pass me by and so far, while she's come close several times, she's done me no physical harm.

[Getupngo]

My biggest problem with dodging tornadoes is they broadcast tornado watches & warnings by COUNTY. Who knows what blasted county you're in when you're driving -- alone -- down the road? Geez.

[soisew]

One vital piece of equipment is a weather radio. Listen to/scan for local radio stations if weather conditions look rough. The difficult part is determining where you are since the NOAA gives warnings for counties not cities so as you travel in iffy weather -- track where the county lines are. Watch the weather channel regularly so you'll know if you'll be going into a stormy region. If you are worried -- alter your route or delay/change travel times. If you happen to be in an RV and you hear a weather warning -- many rest areas & truck stops can also be storm shelters! If you are out in the open -- some new advice we heard is to stay in a car and realize that glass will get broken out. But if you go into a ditch and have heavy rain --- well that could be bad too. So, know your storm clouds -- if you see a red blob on the radar or see a funnel or wall cloud seek shelter at a rest area or truck stop somewhere out of the storm's path and don't be out on the road. It's better to wait it out than chance it out on the open road.

[Sagegal]

Awesome advice, thanks to all, let's hope I don't need it.

Sagegal