This is the Ulman arena in Jackson TN, where the Red Cross had a shelter in May of 2003.  We were parked at the edge of the parking lot out of the way, till the portable generators ran out of fuel.  Since the hurricane knocked out all the power in the area, the gas stations could not pump.  So we backed up to the loading dock and ran extension cords to the RV so we could keep the lights on inside.  Now that we know what to expect, we carry 80 feet of cable and a distribution panel to connect directly to our generator.  Lest anyone get the wrong idea, what we did is completely against Red Cross policy, but we had to get the lights back on quickly.  Click the picture for a larger image.  The RV is a 40' Allegro Bus, with an Onan Quiet Cool 7.5 KW Diesel Generator.  It can generate for 6 days at full power on a tank of fuel, but was needed for less than 3 hours on this operation.

This may be hard to recognize, but it used to be a large, older style, TV satellite dish, folded up like an old umbrella by the Oak Ridge TN tornado of November 2002.  Nearby cattle, visible at the rear left were unharmed as the storm passed.  Likewise the brick house, 40 feet to the left had only minor damage to some roofing shingles.

In the spring of 07 in the Texas Pan Handle, there was a tornado, during which it was discovered that one family was operating a feed lot in their home. So the emergency workers marked the house as having 3 (cow) survivors.

Here in Cactus Tx on DR696-07 we got a chance to power the new HQ and the ECRV.  Again it only lasted a few hours before the local power company loaned us a 120kw generator.  We also acted as a shield from the wind for the ECRV as the winds were gusting into the 50's.  The local sheriff came to the motor home to discuss the evening curfew at what he perceived to be the command center.