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Tips to Minimize Hurricane Ian’s Impact on RVers, Before and After

Published on September 26th, 2022 by Rene Agredano
This post was updated on March 26th, 2024

Natural disasters and RVs don’t play nice together. Currently, thousands of East Coast travelers are feeling Hurricane Ian’s impact on RVers who are headed south (or already there). Having a good evacuation plan and trip planning system is critical for anyone’s survival in a natural disaster. Here are some tips to get through this latest severe weather incident.

RVing on the East Coast? Watch Out for Hurricane Ian

This week’s Hurricane Ian is expected to slam into Florida with full force. Calling it a “formidable hurricane,” weather experts says up to six inches of rain and three feet of storm surge might pummel the Florida Keys.

After that, it’s anyone’s guess where Ian will hit next along the Eastern Seaboard or the Panhandle. Wherever it lands, RVers who prepare for natural disasters have better survival odds than those who don’t.

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Florida RVers, Follow These Tips to Stay Safe During Hurricane Ian

Many southbound snowbird RVers are already in Florida for the coming winter season. All are trying to decide the best ways to survive this epic weather event. Should they ride it out in a safe zone, or make a new RV trip itinerary and head straight home for winter?

The iRV2 Discussion Forums are buzzing with ideas about RV safety tips for hurricanes.

discussion of Hurricane Ian's impact on RVers in Florida
iRV2 members discuss Hurricane Ian

On YouTube, RVers EnjoytheJourney.life give a close-up view of what it’s like to prepare and evacuate your RV before a hurricane hits. Even the first few minutes of this video show why it’s so important to follow these RVer safety tips for hurricanes.

Hurricanes Give Fair Warning

Unlike RVing in natural disasters like wildfires, earthquakes, and flash floods, hurricanes give plenty of advance notice before making landfall. Theoretically you should have enough time to minimize the impacts of Hurricane Ian on RVers like you. These steps include:

  • Fill your fuel tank
  • Empty black tanks and gray water tanks
  • Fill your fresh water tank
  • Stock up on food for you and your RVing pets
  • Charge your electronics batteries
  • Verify your phone is set up to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts

What if You Can’t Get Your RV Away from Hurricane Ian (or Other High Wind Events)?

Unfortunately, too many travelers will feel Hurricane Ian’s effect on RVers and locals, especially those who stick around. If for some reason, evacuating your RV from Hurricane Ian’s path is not possible, this interesting tip to survive high winds in an RV might help you make it through:

Find a partner and pull your RV as close to another RV as possible with one facing one way and the other facing the other way so you can use the doors to get in and out. This will work with a motor coach, fifth wheel or travel trailer or all of the above in any combination.

@letmgrow, iRV2 Forums Member

What if Florida Snowbird RV Parks Don’t Survive Hurricane Ian?

Florida is one of the most popular states for snowbird RVers to get away from winter. Hurricane Ian’s impact on RV campgrounds could be devastating. With nowhere to stay all winter, southbound RVers may need to find alternate places to spend winter. RV parks in the west could eventually feel the impact of Hurricane Ian RVers who fled the storm.

When you are safe from the hurricane, start searching Campground Reviews to create a list of Plan B RV parks for winter–just in case.

Create an RV Trip Plan to Get Far Away, Fast

Hurricane landings can change at the last minute. But since it’s mostly a given that Hurricane Ian’s impact on RVers in Florida will be devastating, it makes sense to get away as fast as possible. Better to be inconvenienced now than dead later, right?

We have a go to plan if we need to get out. But where will depend on the forecast tonight and the final go or no go will happen tomorrow morning. After that it will be too late since the highways in all directions will be too clogged and we do not want to be caught on the road once the weather starts to deteriorate. The affects of the storm will begin on Tuesday and go downhill from there. Outer bands will have strong winds, very heavy rain and spin up tornadoes. And the fools on the highway will be more dangerous than those.

@Chuckbear, iRV2 Forums Member

Knowing where to point your RV is essential.

Avoiding Hurricane Ian's impact on RVers with RV Trip Wizard
RV Trip Planner helps you avoid hazardous driving conditions.

Having a good trip planning tool like RV Trip Wizard can save you the time and hassle of trying to guess where to go. Not only can this visual trip planner show you the fastest drive times to get away from Hurricane Ian, but it also show RVers how to avoid road hazards and other incidents that slow down the evacuation plan.

3 More Tips for RVers to Survive Natural Weather Disasters

If you’re in Florida right now, you should have a general idea of where you need to go and what you need to do to lessen the impacts of Hurricane Ian. If not, now’s the time. Follow these tips for RVers to survive natural weather disasters, and you’ll up the odds to make it out alive.

What Wind Speed Is Dangerous For RVs?

There is no doubt that RVs are affected by wind speed. But just how dangerous is wind speed for RVs?

Lynne Fedorick, What Wind Speed Is Dangerous For RVs?

Dust Storm Safety: What To Do If You’re Camping Or Driving

 Storms, floods, wild animals, and natural disasters can strike at any time, so it’s important to be ready for anything. Dust storms (also known as sand storms or haboobs) are not super common in the US, but it’s still good to know some dust storm safety tips. 

Emily Lawrence, Dust Storm Safety: What To Do If You’re Camping Or Driving

What To Do In A Campground Wildfire Evacuation

While it’s obviously best to avoid areas where wildfires are already happening, how do you stay safe when you’re camping and a wildfire suddenly starts in the area? In this article, we’re going to discuss important safety tips for staying safe during wildfire season and what you need to know about a wildfire evacuation

Lynne Fedorick, What To Do In A Campground Wildfire Evacuation

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