Weather can change abruptly in Michigan, at any time of year, so campers should have a game plan for when bad weather strikes.

It’s a joke among Michigan residents that the weatherman is right only 50 percent of the time. One day it can be 90 degrees, and the next day it’s stormy and 60. But the severe weather in early August that affected much of Michigan has shown all residents and tourists – including RVers – one thing: Despite all of our advancements in comfort, we are still at the mercy of the elements. Tornadoes, heavy rain, high winds, thunderstorms, flooding, blizzards, hail – all can have a physical impact on your RV, your safety, and when or how you travel. For campers, it’s essential to be prepared for what Michigan weather could bring.

Here are some brief explanations of weather that can be encountered, along with some safety tips for you and your RV.

Thunderstorms: There are the thunderstorms you can watch from your front porch, and then there are the storms that will require finding a safe spot to wait it out. Regardless, when there’s lightning, get indoors and stay there until the danger has passed. Lightning strikes can cause electrical damage to your RV as well as start forest fires.  You can estimate how far away the lightning is by counting the seconds between the flash and the resulting clap of thunder. Sound moves roughly a mile every five seconds; so if you could 10 seconds between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder, the lightning is two miles away. And it can strike more than 10 miles away from the storm producing it.

Hail: Hail can get to baseball size, even softball size in severe storms. That can cause a lot of damage to your RV’s windshield, windows, roof, vents, and sidewalls.  Even hail the size of a marble are enough to pepper your RV with dents that will be expensive to repair. A Delta Liquid Energy safety brochure suggests considering moving propane and gas tanks to a more protected area and having them inspected by a service technician after the fact. Stay in a sheltered area to avoid being hit yourself.

Wind: Thunderstorms can bring gusty winds of around 60 miles an hour in severe cases – enough to result in property damage. If conditions are just right, then straight-line winds might develop, sustained winds of 60-120 miles an hour that are capable of knocking down trees, power lines, and recreation vehicles. If on the road, you could find yourself – or someone else – being pushed over. Tornadoes can reach winds up to 300 mph according to www.nssl.noaa.gov. Fortunately, tornadoes are traditionally rare in Michigan, but the recent summer has shown that the state is not immune.

Rain: The sound of rain hitting the roof of your RV might be lulling, but too much can create a dangerous situation. Heavy rain can have an impact on low lying areas and cause flooding, and it can cause low visibility to make driving hazardous.

Snow: RVing in areas that see snow in the winter can be a beautiful experience, but blizzards and heavy snowfall are not what you’d call “beautiful”… at least not until after the storm has passed. Low visibility, disorientation, covered roadways, ice…  cold weather can be ferocious to face. It goes without saying, but drive slowly and on your guard. After all, you are driving a big rig or towing something behind you.

If bad weather is forecasted, it might just be time to get out of town. Leave as soon as you can so that you’re not stuck in traffic on the road – and then find yourself stuck in the weather and a more vulnerable position. And of course, in an emergency, call 911.

Protect Your Family

The most important thing to do in the face of bad weather is to stay calm and exercise good judgment. Stay apprised of changes in the forecast to help with making decisions about safety. Cell phones can receive automatic NOAA weather updates for your location; or pack a weather radio, tuned to the local station, to alert you to incoming dangers.  If you are en route to your destination, then consider making alternate plans to avoid the bad weather until it’s passed.

RVs offer a lot of protection from the weather, but sometimes it’s not going to be the safest place to be. In the case of tornadoes and straight-line winds, find shelter in a more stable place immediately – don’t wait until it gets worse. Even though RVs can weigh a significant amount, strong winds can be enough to tip an RV on its side. High winds and ice storms can also bring down trees and large branches, which unfortunately could hit or crush your RV.

It’s vitally important to create an emergency plan for you and your family. Make sure everyone knows of the emergency plan. It’s important to decide this in advance, at every place you visit, because you can’t rely on cell phone service. All children and adults should know what to do, both away and at the campsite. Also, work with your family so that everyone has a job to do in preparation for bad weather. For instance, if a thunderstorm with strong winds is on the way, everyone needs to help get outdoor chairs and other items inside, retract awnings, move in slide outs, etc. Everyone should know where to take shelter in a place other than the RV, such as a campground’s main office, lodge, or side shelter. Speak with the owner or manager of the campground, park, or resort when you arrive about their plan in the event of severe weather and where your family should go.

Protect Your RV

Flash flooding, and heavy rain in general, can make a big mess of roadways. Flash flooding is the rapid flooding of low-lying areas such as rivers, basins, and washes. Driving through high enough water is enough to stall Class A, Class B, and Class C motorhomes, not to mention tow vehicles for towables, while more serious levels are enough to sweep RVs away. In a state like Michigan, where you’re never more than six miles away from water according to MDOT, it’s safer not to go on the roads at all and to get yourself to higher ground. Move your RV or vehicle to higher ground if you have enough advance warning and a place to go. If the forecast is very bad, then most likely everyone will need to be evacuated from the campground.

Does insurance help cover your RV in case of hail damage, water damage, or electrical damage as a result of being struck by lightning? Does it cover damage to your RV if a tree or large branch results in a total loss? How about if someone in your family ends up getting injured during a weather-related event? Or, especially if you’re a full-timer, is there coverage for your personal belongings? Every year, check with your insurance provider to ensure you understand what your policy covers. Make alterations if you plan to travel more often or to locations with more risky weather. Make sure your RV, and any vehicles, is covered appropriately so that there is less worry after the event.

Though your RV is home or your home away from home, make sure your family is safe if rough weather arrives. We all have a responsibility to one another, so this extends to your RV family – your neighbors – too. Fortunately, in Michigan, there is usually little to worry about, but it’s still practical to be prepared as weather here can change very quickly. It can feel like summer in the morning and fall by the afternoon, and that’s just another reason we love to visit and live in the Great Lakes State.