How many nomads arrive at a site and pull out the awning, and then sit down and relax? Sounds great! Well it probably is as long as the wind stays calm and there are no storms approaching. If you live or travel in Queensland you should probably look at the weather site (bom.gov.au) and check what bad weather is coming. We recently settled into Bli Bli in Queensland only to find a super cell storm was approaching and although it said only rain, we were surprised by very high winds and hail. A lot of awnings were damaged in our caravan park as most people had gone to work or not been prepared.

So how do you prepare for something like a super cell storm or cyclone? Here are a number of items and suggestions to go through when a storm approaches.

1. Secure your caravan. Look for points to chain the chassis to the ground so when the winds are strong it is not going to be blown over. Some parks supply ground anchor points. Strong chain or rope over 9.5mm in thickness should be used to secure your van to the points. If no anchor points exist you should use strong nylon rope or steel cable to anchor the van. You can also use storm straps and heavy duty screw in pegs.
2. Secure the van roof. This can be done by putting a strong net over the top of the whole caravan and fixing it to the ground.
3. Dig holes in the ground for the wheels to sit in or chock the wheels. This will help stop any movement of the van in the wind.
4. Park with the narrow end of the van facing the wind.
5. Park out of the the way of trees so your van will not be damaged by flying branches
6. Place heavy items in the van to weigh it down. This can help stop the wind picking up or blowing your van over
7. Apply the Caravan brake.
8. Secure all objects around the area. Flying objects can do a lot of damage so make sure there are no loose items around.
9. Take your awning down. Many awnings are damaged by the wind and storms
10. Switch off your gas and electricity
11. Close all roof vents and windows.
12. If the storm is not severe and you want to leave out your awning make sure you tie it down at the corners using leather straps around the cylinder and two ropes at 45 degrees at the corner secured with tent pegs. Put your awning on a lean so the rain can run off. Alternately you can use anti flap wind kids which will give you arched supports and hold down the sides of the awning.

So keep checking your weather when you are in the caravan. The weather may be a lovely sunny day however an afternoon storm can surprise you. Make sure your equipment is strong enough to hold in a storm…and do not settle for cheap weak awning structures which are likely to cause damage to your van. Remember if you do not think your van will withstand the storm or cyclone…pack up and move to a better area.