Proper Prep Procedures for Any Situation

by

Words by Jason Betzing

I awoke abruptly as the common noise of various motors and fans fell dead silent in our RV. Stepping outside into the cool night air, it was still and quiet. I confirmed that power was down everywhere, and not just at our site. By morning, a wafting haze filtered out the sun, casting a strange ominous glow among the RV park we were at in California Redwood country. The air was thick and there was a smell of burning wood as wild fires lurked in the distance.

It would be days until power and cell reception was restored. There's was no running water and the only supply we had was in our freshwater tank. Driving to the nearest town, we found empty store shelves and cars lined up at fuel pumps, preparing to evacuate. In the park, most of the RVers decided to evacuate, but we decided to stay. Power or not at least we had somewhere safe to park.

What We Did Wrong

The first problem was water. Our freshwater water tank is normally three-quarters full. In this case, however, I had just sanitized and flushed it so we were carrying approximately 2/3 of a tank. As a result, we decided to ration water, which became the biggest worry, but it was easily remedied. Ever since, we now carry more water and keep a case of the bottled stuff in the truck.

The second problem was fuel for our generators. Both of the generator fuel tanks were full, but we didn’t have spare gasoline. I need to develop a way to carry a few reserve gallons as an extra measure of safety. Also, since we use credit cards for travel rewards, we carry very little cash. We had plenty of supplies and we weren’t in dire straits. Nonetheless, having some cash on hand when ATMs are down and the credit card machines aren’t working is just good practice.

We had about a week's worth of food in the pantry and freezer but supplies will run out in an extended emergency. We now carry 248 dehydrated meals with a 25-year shelf-life.

What We Did Right

Fortunately, our truck's original 151 L (40 gal) diesel tank and the 341 L (90 gal) aux tank were 3/4 full. With roughly 416 L (110 gal) or around 1600 km (1000 mi) of range, we could have easily hitched up and evacuated. About four years ago, we found ourselves in nowhere-Nebraska, running on fumes and no cell signal. As you can imagine, it was a bad feeling. Since that trip, we never go below 3/4 fuel capacity.

With the portable generators, we had power and could use the essentials. We also carry two standard propane tanks and since we only use one at a time, there’s always a buffer when one tank runs empty. With no power, we could cook and have heat with little worry.

Truck and RV maintenance is always kept current, meaning small problems are fixed as soon as they break. Since these small problems can commonly cause big ones, we had peace of mind. While we didn't have cell service, we received updates via local radio.

Know Your Rig

Just like a home, you need to be aware of critical switches, valves and back up procedures. In an emergency situation, RV techs are not available. Asking yourself “what happens if…” is always a good idea. If you need to leave in a rush but the slides won't retract, what are the manual procedures?

Also, take a moment to go through the steps of changing a blowout, make sure the truck or trailer spares are in good condition with proper pressure and most importantly, know where it is. Trace out plumbing and electrical runs to help locate and troubleshoot problems more quickly later if something does fail. Of course, reading the operating manual(s) provides a great deal of information. Many are available online and can be downloaded. I keep print copies as well as digital copies on an external hard drive.

Maintain Your Tools and Equipment

There's nothing worse than needing a piece of equipment at a critical time only to realize it doesn't work properly. A maintenance routine simply increases the chances that your equipment will function when you need it. You'll also get the benefit of learning your rig more thoroughly. It only takes a few hours per month to maintain our fifth wheel, tow vehicle, and all the associated equipment such as batteries and generators. This will also identify the basic or specialty tools necessary to work on your truck or RV. It's frustrating to know how to fix a problem, but not have the proper tools to do it.

Emergency Needs

A Google search can provide many emergency preparedness lists as a starting point. The basics include water (2 L per person/per day), preserved food, a first aid kit, flashlights with batteries, and a weather radio with batteries. However, it’s best to create your own list that will always be added to with experience on the road.

We carry two USB portable charger battery banks as well as a portable USB solar charger for our devices. A weather alert radio and a hand-crank radio/flashlight with AM/FM/weather channels rounds out our emergency communications. Our first aid kits are stocked and current (there’s one in the rig and one in the truck). Be aware that items such as burn gels, antibacterial ointments and medications have expiration dates and will need to be rotated.

Being aware of surroundings, having a good flash light, and just common sense help us stay safe. It’s also important to know about potential hazards such as dangerous animals and weather events. Our important documents are kept in a portable fire safe, so if we must evacuate without the RV, we simply grab the safe and go.

For portability and redundancy, I opted for two Predator 2000 inverter generators and a parallel kit instead of one large generator. Two small generators are easier to move and store than a large one. Plus, with two generators, we can get 30 amps service but if one fails, I can still have limited power.

Additional Actionable Tips:

  • Establish routines and maintain them for less stress
  • Schedule truck/RV maintenance in your phone calendar and set to repeat at required intervals
  • Carry spare parts and consumables such as filters, fuses and hot water heater anodes. We also carry enough duct tape and sealant for temporary repairs if needed.
  • A tool kit with basic and specialty tools are a necessity
  • Rotate spare gasoline every six months or treat it with a fuel stabilizer
  • Have fresh batteries for your portable equipment
  • Plan for redundancy. If we lose power, we have 12V and batteries but also candles, a lighter and matches. We carry two spare tires because with a dual axle, a blowout can also destroy the tire next to it.
  • Develop a list of emergency Items and check it before leaving
  • CPR and First Responder classes will provide valuable training if the unexpected happens and emergency services are overwhelmed or not available.
  • Have something to do. Card games are an easy choice for entertainment.

Mitigate Murphy's Law

While we came out of the forest fire situation unscathed (except for some bored grandkids), the experience is a strong reminder that Murphy’s Law is always lurking. It’s best to prepare for what you can do so the little stuff doesn’t bog you down.

The California wildfires definitely revealed some of our strengths and weaknesses and I hope our experience can help you be prepared on the road, if and when the unforeseen happens.

Jason Betzing and his wife sold it all to live their Full Time RV dream. He retired at age 40 and they decided winter is a drag and world travel is more fun than shoveling snow. He loves helping people through sharing authentic, first-hand experience. Connect on Instagram @FullTimeFire, on Facebook @MilesTwoGo or on his blog at https://www.MilesTwoGo.com