RV HURRICANE SAFETY
WHEN IS HURRICANE SEASON ?
Hurricane season for the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts is from June 1 to November 30 . This doesn ’ t mean that there will always be hurricanes during this time ; it ’ s just the time of year when conditions are favorable for development .
BIG RIG RVS AND WEATHER RESTRICTIONS
All RVers need to be careful during bad weather , but big rigs are more vulnerable to being turned over in strong winds . It ’ s also more challenging to avoid flying debris being pushed by strong hurricane winds when driving a big rig . Commercial semi-trucks will not travel during high winds because it is unsafe to do so . Take a lesson from them !
RV HEIGHT CAN LIMIT ESCAPE ROUTES
Our RV height is 12 ’ 10 ”, which fits under most bridges , but in an emergency hurricane evacuation , you may not be able to use the regular exit routes due to flood or high winds . This is another good reason to know your RV ’ s dimensions !
GET FUEL BEFORE THE STORM APPROACHES
During hurricane season , if you are traveling to the coast , make sure you have plenty of fuel in case you need to leave quickly . You don ’ t want to be stuck in long lines trying to get fuel when a storm is approaching .
MOST BRIDGES ARE CLOSED WHEN WINDSPEEDS REACH 39 MPH
Local authorities will close bridges once it becomes too dangerous to cross them , especially for high-profile vehicles like big-rig RVs . The wind speed limits vary a little between states and are just guidelines .
According to the I-95 Corridor Coalition ( a group of coastal states that help develop suggestions for road safety during significant weather-related events ), most local law enforcement will close the bridge traffic once sustained winds reach around 39 mph .
Trust us ; you do not want to drive your RV in high winds , especially over a bridge ! It is extremely dangerous and unnecessary if you plan and evacuate early !
DON ’ T DRIVE YOUR RV THROUGH FLOODED ROADS
You have no idea how deep the water is covering roads or whether the road surface has already eroded under the water . This happens to streets very frequently during hurricane storm surges , and the road literally washes out !
Additionally , you do not want to drive your RV through the saltwater the hurricane is pushing ashore . Saltwater is corrosive and will cause serious ( and possibly irreparable ) damage to your RV chassis !
UNHOOK YOUR TOW VEHICLE If possible , unhook your tow vehicle if it is safe to do so before evacuating and have your travel partner follow you . If you do experience high winds , you don ’ t want your tow vehicle whipping around behind your RV , making it difficult to control !
This also gives you an escape vehicle in case you encounter roads that have become impassable with your RV .
PAY ATTENTION TO TROPICAL WEATHER ALERTS
Many people on vacation tune out of news and weather , it ’ s your vacation , and you are trying to relax ! But when you RV on the coasts , it ’ s a good idea to check in with local weather stations every few days to find out what the tropical weather forecast is .
USE NHC TO GET ACCURATE WEATHER INFORMATION
Local media can overdramatize just about everything , including the weather forecast ! While it is a good idea to check in with local weather stations to see the forecast , we use the National Hurricane Center to get the most accurate and updated information on hurricane tracking .
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