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On a disaster response, particularly one that last for several weeks or months, it is not unusual to have volunteers with RV’s responding. Many volunteers are relatively local, meaning they live within a 2-hour drive of the response. These are the best volunteers to accommodate, as they arrive, feed themselves, work, and go home at the end of the day. No special accommodations are needed. Other volunteers travel some distance and need housing and feeding. Most churches are able to accept a limited number of volunteers who are put up in a fellowship hall or classroom. These volunteers will need space to sleep, usually segregated male/female, need to be fed or need to use the kitchen to prepare their own food, and will need shower facilities.Another set of volunteers come to work and are self-sufficient, meaning they bring their living, sleeping, eating, and showering facility with them – they travel in an RV. This is often true of volunteers who are retired and are able to spend a week to a couple months on a response. Even though they are self-sufficient they still have needs that the church that operates a disaster response operations center can, and should consider providing.The Self-Contained RVAn RV, or Recreational Vehicle, is a trailer or self-propelled unit that provides space for sleeping, cooking, eating, and bathing. While there are different types and sizes of RV’s, all are generally similarly equipped and have the same basic requirements. Most RV’s come equipped with an electrical system, a fresh water system, and a waste water system. Electrical: The RV needs to be plugged into a 120-volt electrical connection of 30 amps or 50 amps. Although a 20-amp circuit could power an RV, it is not recommended as being safe for the RV or the church’s electrical panel due to greater potential for overloading the circuit, which will trip the circuit and may be a fire risk. The RV is connected to the electrical source panel through an extension cord, usually 30- to 75-feet long. Some RV’s are equipped with a generator to supply their electrical needs.Water: Depending on the size of the RV, it will have a 20- to 70-gallon, or larger, water tank to hold a supply of fresh water. The water tank can be filled by pumping or pouring water into a fill spout, or through a hose connection.Waste: Again, depending on the size of the RV, it will have at least one and usually two 20- to 70-gallon holding tanks, one for human waste (“black water”) and one for used water (“grey water) from the kitchen and bathroom sinks and the shower. These holding tanks have a drain pipe for emptying into the sewer system.What the Campground Needs to ProvideIt goes without saying that churches are not built with utilizing their facilities to provide for RV’s responding on a disaster response in mind! As such, virtually no church is equipped to handle one or more RV’s. However, with some adaptation one or more RV’s may be able to be located on property.Electrical: A church may be able to supply electrical connections to RV’s by providing:One or more 20-amp (not 15-amp) circuits, which can power a minimal amount of RV equipment with close monitoring. However, there are limitations that must be considered before using a 20-amp circuit.The outlet or circuit being used should not have any other electrical items being used on it. It should not have lights, a copy machine, refrigerator, microwave oven, computer, TV, or anything else on it or it will tend to trip the breaker from being overloaded.The outlet being used to plug the RV in should be no more than 100-feet from the electrical panel to keep voltage drop to a minimum.The outlet must be on a 20-amp breaker and use #12- or #10-gauge wire.The outlet should not be more than 50-feet away from the RV to minimize voltage drop from the extension cord being used, which can damage RV electronics, overheat the cord or circuit wires, or cause the breaker to trip.One or more 30-amp or 50-amp, 120-volt circuits connected to an electrical disconnect switch. Small and mid-sized RV’s are set up to run on 30-amp; large RV trailers and motor coaches are set up for 50-amp power, but can be adapted down to a 30-amp circuit (although 50-amp is preferred). A qualified electrical contractor should be used for any such electrical installation.The circuit must be dedicated specifically for RV use.It must have a dedicated electrical disconnect switch, with appropriate circuit breakers and RV receptacles. (NEMA type 3R)It must be within 60-feet of the electrical connection on the RV.Contact your local electrical utility company to have them meet with your electrician to discuss the possibility of having the power company install a dedicated RV power distribution pole, with meter and a distribution panel to supply power to RV’s, rather than come off an existing connection and panel to your church. The cost of the installation and monthly meter charge may be included in a disaster response grant.Without an electrical connection the RV will need to be powered from a generator. Running a generator is noisy and can consume a large quantity of expensive and sometimes-scarce fuel.Water: Of the three items needed to provide for RV’s, water is the easiest. All that is needed is an outside water source. Usually this is nothing more than a hose bib on the outside of the church. Connect a “Y” to the hose bib so that it can still be used other than for RV’s.Connect a length of lead-free (white or blue in color, not regular garden hose) water hose to the “Y” on the hose bib, then attach a 4- or 6-hose manifold to the other end. This will allow several separate hoses to be attached.Protect the hoses from freezing or being run over by lawn mowers or vehicles. If it is crossing a sidewalk or driveway build a protective covering over it.Waste: Health codes require that waste systems to be emptied into a sewer or septic system; a storm sewer or open dumping is not allowed for grey water disposal.There should be a sewer drain line cleanout located between a building and the street. Depending on the location of the cleanout, this may be able to be used for black and grey water disposal.For an RV campground a temporary drain piping system may need to be built, which drains into the sewer system at the cleanout. If a drain pipe system cannot be built you may need to look at obtaining a portable waste tank that can be used to transfer the waste fluids from the RV to the drain. Another possibility is contracting with a local port-a-let or septic company to have RV waste tanks pumped.Parking Space: Very few RV’s will fit into a single car parking space. An RV can be up to 45-feet in length, which is typically about 5 parking space widths wide. In addition to the parking space, ample space must be provided for turning and backing RV’s, without overhead or side obstructions that might cause damage to the RV. Therefore, care must be used as to where RV’s will be parked and their ingress to and egress from that area.Additional space must be provided for parking of RV tow or towed vehicles.Many RV’s are very heavy, weighing up to 50,000 pounds! While a grass or dirt lot may work, thought needs to be given for support for that weight, especially after rains, so the RV does not get stuck. Available space for RV’s will determine how many can be allowed at any given time, which in turn will determine electrical, water, and waste disposal needs.Other ConsiderationsFunding: Virtually no congregation has dedicated space for RV’s, and very few have reserve funds that can be used to quickly construct an adequate campground for RV’s. An alternate arrangement would be to contract with a local RV campground to provide a limited number of spaces. This will require either the church or the camper to pay for use of the site. If a church can provide this alternative at a reduced or at no cost to the RV volunteers that goes a long way to getting them to come.Even if electric, water, and waste disposal are provided at the church, RV volunteers can be asked to donate an amount to help defray the cost of this service. If other volunteers, who are staying in the church, are charged a fee it is not unreasonable to charge RV volunteers to contribute the same amount.Consider including the cost of setting up a few RV sites in a disaster response grant. LCMS Disaster Response and your District may consider such expense as a legitimate response-related expense.Consider including RV hookups as part of a building program, particularly if your church is in an area that has its share of disaster events and your church serves as a response operations center.Permits: Depending on your local zoning ordinances and how many RV’s you wish to set up for, you may be required to obtain a special permit for parking RV’s on your property. Always check with your local government’s zoning department prior to embarking on the project. Sometimes, some jurisdictions may waive a required permit, or provide the permit at a reduced fee or at no cost, following a disaster. Always obtain any required permits for electrical, water, and sewer.ConclusionFollowing a disaster, volunteers are usually the most valuable resource needed. While many volunteers are local or are willing to stay at your church, a large number of volunteers are able to come with their RV and be self-sufficient. RV volunteers are often retired, have considerable disaster response experience and skills, and are able to stay for an extended period of time. Excluding them by not providing a means for them to stay is a loss of this valuable and much-needed asset. As you consider housing and feeding volunteers who will stay inside your facilities, also consider how you can accommodate the self-contained, self-sufficient RV volunteer.NEMA Type 3R 120-volt outlet panel with 20-amp GFCI, 30-amp, and 50-amp receptacles.381001447800030708607810500 Water hose manifoldWater hose “Y”Sample temporary RV set-up at a church disaster response operations center. Waste drain pipe system for RV’s. RV connection into the drain pipe.The pipes were connected to a sewer system cleanout connection. RV Electrical distribution system. This is a temporary panel board that enables several RV’s to hook into one panel. ................
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