Wow, this is a heartbreaking story—my thoughts go out to this fellow RV owner. The devastation that Mother Nature can bring is no joke, and this story from Canisteo, NY, during the remnants of Hurricane Debby is a powerful reminder of just how unpredictable and dangerous weather can be.
For those who haven’t seen it, one of our Facebook members shared their experience about the major damage that occurred to their RV—a 2015 Grand Design Reflection 293RES. Their RV was parked in their yard when a flash flood hit, sweeping the RV down the creek. The flood was so severe that it ripped the RV apart, all the way down to the frame. The pictures they shared are shocking, showing just how powerful these natural forces can be.
This serves as a crucial reminder to all of us in the RV community: Please, make sure you stay informed and aware of the weather conditions, especially when hurricanes, tropical storms or heavy rains are forecasted. If you’re in an area prone to flooding, take the necessary precautions to protect your RV and, more importantly, ensure your safety.
It’s stories like these that remind us why it’s so important to have a solid plan in place for when severe weather is on the horizon. Whether you’re on the road or parked, always prioritize safety and be ready to move to higher ground if necessary.
Stay safe out there, and keep these weather events in mind when planning your travels!
More from Dustin
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Have a weather radio, watch the weather channels. Have a plan.
On an incoming hurricane, run to the West side of it and go early. If you are in a hurricane prone area, keep all your vehicles fueled up.
Better to be safe than sorry.
How in the world do folks lose their RV to a hurricane?
Unlike a tornado, there’s at least a week warning of plausibility and then days of probability. Does insurance cover willful neglect when the owner chooses not to drag it or drive their rig out of harms way?
The tracking on TV is nice but hurricanes do not always do as told. This past decade two have made a right turn and those that evacuated were followed right on in toward Orlando. Where they had left ended up being safe. Erin stalled and sat off the coast of Timpas for two days doing more damage than expected. I was a “first responder” and had to prepare before the storm and clean up after, I could not leave. I am in a non-evac zone but will still get damage, but not low-lying, so they want me off the road for others. There is only one way out, North, and that is just 5 roads for over 500 miles. Having lived in the Mid-West and experienced tornados close up, it is almost a toss-up.
We live in Oklahoma and I’ll say without doubt, the comparison isn’t anywhere close. Not by a long shot.
A rain wrapped funnel dropping out of the clouds offers zero warning. Even with visible rotation, there’s simply no predicting where things will develop, drop and devastate. It’s even worse at night.
I understand hurricanes can turn, linger and dissipate but forecasts today are far superior to what existed in the 70’s. You have up to a week to decide with a hurricane, with a tornado, you have minutes. I can understand people getting complacent, buying beer and playing the odds. What I can’t understand is them acting surprised….
Stay safe out there!
Understand. As to those acting surprised, those people are everywhere, and the news media is going to them first for headlines. Most down here spend that week boarding up and tying down. My tornado experience has been in S.D, Iowa and Ill. Not many years back lost 1/4 of my hometown – just gone – blown into the corn fields. I have heard the sirens and headed to the basement and in S.D had a tornado cellar out back. We did make it thru Helene unscathed, but just ten miles from here was quite the devastation and then on up the coast and beyond. Wherever you are, when the sky turns green, just duck.
So glad you made it through OK, Kelly.👍 But so sad and sorry for those who didn’t.😢 Take care, and have a good night.🤗 –Diane
Have a friend lost all but his truck that he left in. Too close to home.
I’m sorry to hear that, Kelly. That’s really devastating. Soooo many people lost so much, including their lives. Very tragic. Take care.🤗 –Diane
Our son lives in NW Florida on a 16 acre hobby farm. Helene went through last night. Far enough inland to avoid storm surge, but had 110mph wind gusts and heavy rain. They are fine and on generator. Doubt our RV would have survived. Another friend near Wilmington, North Carolina. 73mph winds, rain and an active tornado a few miles away. I see Atlanta has 24 active NWS warnings, mostly for floods but also wind.
Unless there is a reason a RV could not be moved, all the campgrounds in the SE should be empty right now.
Hi, Jim. I’m glad to hear your son and friend are OK. Helene is having such a huge and devastating impact on millions of people. (I’ll take our usually “boring” Pacific Northwest weather any day, thank you.🙂) Take care, and stay safe. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank you, Dustin! 🙂 That is quite a mess to clean!?! Flash floods are violent, given how shredded the RV was. I do hope that the RV was insured. Thanks again, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Imagine if this happened at an RV dealership. “On sale, discounted, needs some work”.