Turn Your RV Into An emergency kit

My heart aches for all those who must leave their homes, all they know and all they possess on a moment’s notice.  What to take?  What stays behind?  A lifetime of memories.  Decisions like these are impossible yet, at times, necessary. 

Today’s world is full of upheaval.  Wildfires, floods, and 100 or 1,000 year storms or other emergencies have become the norm happening virtually every year in one form or another.  No place feels safe or immune.  That’s why we decided the RV would be our ‘bug-out bag’ emergency kit.

Many people displaced end up in hotels or sleeping on cots in a gymnasium somewhere dependent on the kindness and generosity of others.  Thank goodness for that generosity but if you are fortunate enough to own an RV then why not ready it.  It is so much more comforting to have a place to go surrounded by your own things.  Something we found out first-hand when we were caught in the flooding in Santa Barbara, California in 2022 and had to make a run to safety. 

So how do you prepare?  Here’s what we do.  Feel free to take it as a guide or starting point for your own preparedness plan. 

Firstly, all our onboard tanks are set whenever we store our RV just in case.  That means all tanks that should be full are full, like fuel (for our diesel engine), onboard propane and freshwater tank.  We also keep our small portable propane tank topped.  All onboard tanks that should be empty are, such as our grey and black water tanks.  We also have food and a supply of fresh filtered drinking water onboard.  Enough for a week easy but as much as 10 days if we’re more careful.  In fact, all our tanks can last us about 10 days, again if we’re conscientious. 

Secondly, we have all our household, electronic and personal items already onboard including cookware, bedding, blankets, towels, toiletries, spare eyeglasses, charging cables for both phones and computers plus more.  Clothes and footwear for both warmer and cooler temperatures are also already loaded.  Everything we need to live – dress, cook, eat, sleep, communicate, survive whatever the situation. 

Thirdly, due to my medical background we have all our important paperwork with us along with a medical emergency kit and health devices including a defibrillator.  With our lives, memories and keepsakes such as photographs all on computers these days, we only need grab our smartphones, tablets and essential medications on the way out the door. 

It’s not perfect.  Fresh food might be a challenge but at least we won’t starve.  We rotate our onboard food and water supply, but we keep actual food with a long stable shelf-life rather than rations, although that’s also an option if you want to take things a step further.  Water purifying tablets are available too if you really want to prep.  We even store a small amount of wood and Firestarter to keep warm. 

Here’s a handy list of Emergency Preparedness Items as identified in the BC Emergency Preparedness Kit, in addition to those mentioned above.

• Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)
• Food (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food)
• Manual can opener (for food)
• Cell phone with chargers and power bank or inverter
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Battery-powered or hand-crank Flashlight
• First aid kit and essential medications
• Extra batteries
• Whistle (to signal for help)
• Dust/Medical mask (to help filter contaminated air)
• Plastic sheeting/tarp, scissors, rope and duct tape (to shelter in place)
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
• Tool Kit with wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
• Copy of your emergency plan
• Copies of important documents, such as insurance papers and identification
• Cash in small bills
• Local maps

More information on how to prepare are available at:

Build an emergency kit and grab-and-go bag – Province of British Columbia

Emergency Kits – Government of Canada

Build A Kit | Ready.gov – United States Government

Being set-up in this way brings peace of mind – knowing what we would do if we ever had to.  I know personally I can handle a lot more stress when I’m in my own space.  Ultimately, if we have our lives that’s the most important.  Everything else is replaceable.  Stay safe out there!

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