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There’s an unwritten code that RVers help each other. A recent story proves this theory. When a campground in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, flooded, people jumped in to rescue fellow RVers from the high waters.
Keep reading, and we’ll share the story.
RVers Help Liberate RVs from Campground Under 5ft of Water
Mother nature turned a camping trip into a scary situation rather quickly when a campground in Pigeon Forge got the brunt of a heavy rainstorm. The nearby river flooded, putting the campground in almost 5 ft of water and covering over half of the campsites. Most RVs got out in time, but a couple wasn’t so lucky.
Nate and Christian Axness, the creators of the YouTube channel Project Trek, were there and helped come to the rescue. A fifth wheel got stuck in the high water, and the owners didn’t know how to hook up the hitch to get it to safety. Nate knew what to do and ran out in the deep, murky waters to help. Soon the RV was on dry land. The RV suffered significant water and electrical damage, but the owners were happy to have it out!
What Caused the Flood?
The heavy rainfall threatened the water levels of a nearby dam, so the city released the spillway during the storm. Doing so likely prevented catastrophic damage to the infrastructure and significant flooding elsewhere. But in the midst of it all, they didn’t have time to warn the campground.
The water receded into the river the following day, but the campground needed to shut down for repairs for electrical components and more. The current owner had only purchased the campground nine months prior. The storm was a disappointing and unexpected turn of events for him, but hopefully, the damage wasn’t too bad.
What This Camaraderie Shows about the RV World
This type of story reminds us of how easy it is for RVers to come together as a community. RVers are often prone to stop what they’re doing to help each other. It’s a reminder that there are good and kind people in the world no matter where you are on the road.
How to Avoid Getting Stuck in Situations Like This
So how do you avoid getting stuck in a situation like a flood in Pigeon Forge? Here are four tips.
Have a Flood Safety Plan
If a flood occurs or is forecasted, have a plan to get to safety. As you’ll see in the video, the Axness family moved their fifth wheel to higher ground when they thought the water might reach their campsite.
Watch the Weather Forecast
Keep an eye on the weather forecast and put alerts on your phone. No wants to be woken up in the middle of the night to a foot of water in your RV! Dark Sky is a great app to keep track of the weather on iOS.
Don’t Park Too Close to Rivers with High Water Levels
Stay away from rivers and lakes when there are high water levels. If a campsite by a high river is your only choice and there’s rain in the forecast, we recommend finding another campground.
The risk is just too high, as evidenced by the devastating flood in Texas in 2018 that took out a campground. A quick Google search will reveal other examples of why parking near high water levels is never wise.
Exercise Caution and Follow Basic Safety Protocols
We can’t overemphasize how important it is to exercise caution, have an RV safety kit, and follow basic safety protocols.
For the safety of your RV and its passengers, we recommend departing a campground if there’s a flood risk. It’s always better to err on the side of caution if you’re on the fence. Even if you need to move to a Walmart parking lot for one night, it’s best to stay away from the campground until it’s safe. But moving is better than incurring water damage.
Suppose a flood comes on without forewarning; have a plan to remove your RV. Ask for help if needed and proceed with caution as there could be sharp objects or obstructions under the water.
Get yourself and any passengers to safety first. Your RV hopefully has insurance, and you can replace it; obviously, that’s not the case with people.
Conclusion
RVing is much more fun when you have safety measures in place. So be prepared and watch the weather. And if a flood or another dangerous weather event happens, seek help and camaraderie with your neighbors.
Safe and happy travels to you!
