Stock Your RV for Emergencies: Have It Stocked and Ready to GoStock your RV for emergencies so you can use it for temporary shelter. Part 2 of Preparing Your RV for Emergencies article. Keeping your RV well stocked can reduce stress during an emergency.
• First aid kit. Make sure it contains any prescription or over the counter medications that you need. • Basic kitchen equipment. Kettles, a fry pan, stove top coffee pot, dishes, silverware, large spoons, pancake turner, knives, and a can opener. • Paper plates and bowls. Paper towels and napkins. • Simple foods that requires very little preparation. It won’t do any good to have flour, sugar, and other staples if you don’t have the time, facility, or mental energy to cook them. Have a selection of ready to eat foods on hand. Cooked and ready to eat meats that come in cans or pouches. Peanut butter. Crackers or pilot bread. Raisins and other dried fruits. Nuts, peanuts, roasted soybeans, or other snack seeds. Canned milk. Canned fruit and vegetables. Soups, pasta and meatballs, and other heat and serve entrees in cans or pouches. Cold cereals. Candy and snacks. • Blankets or sleeping bags. It may be warm in your part of the country, but you may evacuate to colder areas. When stocking your RV for emergencies, don’t skip these. • Basic cleaning supplies – dish soap, all-purpose cleaner, laundry detergent, broom, garbage bags, bucket, and cleaning rags. Besides using them to clean the RV while you are living in it, you may desperately need them when you return home. • Basic tools – plain and Phillips screwdrivers, hammer, pliers, adjustable wrench, locking jaw pliers, saw, etc. When you stock your RV for emergencies, include these, even if you don’t know how to use them. If you have the tools, someone else may be able to use them to help you. • Toiletries, grooming, and personal supplies. Washcloths, towels, and extra toilet paper. • Two complete changes of clothing for each family member. These should be clean, comfortable, and respectable. Do not pack worn out clothes or those that don’t fit well. You may be wearing them day and night in a shelter. You may also be wearing them for job interviews (or, for children, to school). Be sure to have boots, a warm jacket, a warm cap, and gloves or mittens for each person. Again, you are stocking for an emergency, so take warm clothes, even if you normally don’t need them. • If you have babies or young children, keep a supply of their essentials in the RV. Diapers, bottles, formula, and stuffed animals or comfort toys. Having a well-stocked RV is a convenience anytime. As you are RVing for fun and pleasure, you will use many of these things. Hopefully, that is the only time you will need them. Remember to replace them in case you do need to use your RV as an emergency vehicle and shelter. Taking the time to stock your RV for emergencies today can be a life saver tomorrow.
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