Friend in Florida and I were just discussing hurricane season again.
Last year they were evacuated two times, the first was actually ended up for two storms.
We’ve been going back and forth chatting about trailers versus mobile homes (bus) for evacuating.
Personally I’m looking at picking up an older camping trailer and rebuilding it to fit our needs.
By leaving it stocked with the basics and some long term provisions, I can literally back up to it, hook up and drive off able to set up “house” elsewhere.
We had a pretty decent fire here this summer and if the wind had been coming from the opposite direction, it could eventually have made it to my place.
By having a trailer packed and ready to go, all I would have needed to do is grab the “essentials” and scram. We would have still had a place to sleep even if the house got damaged.
In his case, they ended up with family, two states away. He would have been much more comfortable with more of their own stuff, in case the worst happened, and they had to rebuild or relocate.
The ability to pull over and get some sleep without paying jacked up hotel prices would have been nice also.
I look at these storms and while I understand not wanting to abandon your home that you have worked so hard for, there is enough warning with them that you can still get out and survive which is the most important part. You have to be alive to rebuild.
In my friends case, they evacuated and the power was out for two weeks. They lost a couple hundred dollars worth of frozen food that they had just gotten.
Since then we have discussed several different ways to minimize even that.
Me, I am looking for a functional and affordable travel trailer to rebuild the way we want. Between upcoming travels to visit kids in college and hunting trips as well as just getting away, it will pay for itself quickly.
Add in emergencies and it only makes even more sense.