Power of Mother Nature

[Suburban 550 28]

As many of you know beside Wheel Horse tractors one of my favorite past times is being a seasonal camper at Splash Majic Campground in Northumberland, Pa. Last Sunday I left for home because of work but my wife, 2 dogs and our cat decided on spending the week up there to enjoy her vacation. She called me Sunday night to tell me she got the trailer all washed and waxed and I called her Monday at dinner and she got the inside all cleaned up and would call me Monday night. She was going to spend the rest of the week relaxing at the pool but that never happened. Here are a couple pics of our trailer in it's glory days.

At about 5:15 p.m. on Monday a storm blew up while she was eating pizza with the neighbors under our awning, while our pets were inside with the air conditioning and tv going. She said it was a crack of thunder and a bolt of lightning hit a big oak tree behind the trailer and the next thing someone hollered lookout. Her and the neighbors dove for their lives and down came the oak tree on the trailer. The first thing in her mind when she got up off the ground were the pets inside. Without even thinking of the electric and gas being on and about a 12 ton tree resting ontop of the trailer she crawled in on her hands and knees to save them. Fortunately, she was able to get them all out unharmed with only one dog suffering a scratch on its back leg. Material things can be replaced but lives cannot. Someone was watching out for all of them that day and it really makes you think about ever getting back into a trailer again. Here are some pics of the aftermath:

We lost basically everything and hopefully the insurance company will be good to us.

[Kelly 1,033]

WOW, I'm glade to hear no one was hurt, that could have been bad.

[JimD 3,347]

Ray I am just thankful Linda and your neighbors weren't hurt. To think that one tree could totally destroy your camper in just a second certainly is scary. I hope all goes well with the insurance company and you are treated fairly.

Jim

[Suburban 550 28]

One of the hardest hits I ever saw a trailer take from a tree. The pictures don't really show the devastation inside. Luckily the trailer had 5" aluminum roof trusses and aluminum sidewall construction (that held up like a roll cage in a race car) and we weren't sleeping in it at the time as there could have been tragic results. If the trailer would have had aluminum siding and wooden framing, it would have been cut it in half and not even the pets would have survived. I'm still a little shaken on the thoughts of what could have happened.

[varosd 1,185]

wow! Without warning our lives can changed forever. With all this bake and broil weather...severe storms pop up and disappear in seconds. I remember a tornado backin CT in the late 70's that took out the NewEngland Air Museum!

[jimt1971 237]

Ray and Linda,

Sorry that this happened. I am glad Linda and my little buddies are ok. If you need anything just ask.

Jim

[mowerman1193 42]

Wow!! I am glad everyone is ok. That is very scary.

Two years ago while camping a similar thing happen to someone in our campground. The difference was it happen to them twice. First time was about 5 years before the last one and a storm blew up quick. Insurance paid well and they got a new trailer. They said they almost didn't get one as they was getting quite old and was a lot of work for them to set up and take down every year..But they went ahead and got a trailer and camped for a few more years.

The last time there was no storm and only a light breeze that day. We heard a crack and the tree just came down on the trailer. Thankfully both times no one was hurt. Very weird that the tree just fell like it did. They have never been camping again, LOL ( I don't blame them ).

Kevin

[Horse'n Around 22]

Wow Ray, I cant even imagine how scary that was. Even tho it could have been far worse things like this can really be traumatic. Im so glad that Linda wasn't in it when it happened and that your pets made it out safe as well.

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,120]

WOW!! You and Linda and the pets are lucky to be allright.

Funny thing is I'm reading your post on my laptop under the awning of my seasonal camper in Massachusetts right now. Kinda has me lookin around at all the big trees that could reach my camper .

Mike...........

[hm12460 53]

Ray, thank the good lord your wife and pets are ok. I have about 2 dozen tree's in my yard and I just hate it when the wind blows hard.

[stevasaurus 23,274]

Ray & Linda...thanks for the e-mails...again...glad you are all OK...I think you were all lucky...the WH God was smiling on you and wants to see that 701 fixed up. :woohoo:

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Ray when I recieved the pictures from you guys at work the other day my jaw dropped. when Linda sent me a reply I was relieved to here none of you were hurt! Hope all goes well on the $$$ INS end.

Cheers ~Duke

:D

[Suburban 550 28]

After it was all over we really couldn't decide what we wanted to do, get a new one or just give it up. I said to Linda you only live once and this is something we enjoy so let's go for it. We were out camper shopping yesterday and picked out a real beauty that I ended up putting a deposit on. It's a brand new 41 foot 2011 Sierra Park Trailer, all aluminum construction, sliding glass doors, automatic 21 foot awning and awnings over both slide outs. I just hope this one takes me to retirement and beyond. Here's a link to the new trailer.

http://www.salemrvsales.com/inventory/1179...erra-403FK.aspx

[zieg72 209]

Nice replacement, glad everyone is fine.

[MikesRJ 558]

Glad to hear everyone there is OK and it's all working out for the best.

Sweet! When's the party? :woohoo:

[Butch 194]

Good luck Ray and Linda. The new camper is a real beauty! :D

[shorts 182]

glad to hear that Linda and the kids are ok, enjoy the new trailer :woohoo:

[Buzz 502]

Wow, that's some scary crap! Glad everyone's safe. Enjoy your new trailer. If your insurance company isn't too kind, it wouldn't hurt to check with the Campground owners as to what their policy will cover. Their property, their tree.

[VinsRJ 723]

Glad to read that everyone walked away, including the pets! Sorry about the trailer. :woohoo:

[Zeek 2,286]

Good thing you can restore . . . throw a little putty and some red paint on and she'll be good as new

Congratulations on you new trailer, glad no one got hurt :D