We typically only put our awning out when we plan to use it . . . and roll it up when not in use or when we plan on leaving our camp site.
Last July 4th., while sitting under our awning on a perfectly calm day, the park ranger was driving around stopping at each site advising everyone to put their awnings and slide toppers away as the National Weather Service had just announced a severe wind WARNING for the area.
We sat under the awning for awhile and had guests arrive for our July 4th. picnic . . . and all was calm.
After everyone left about six hours after the ranger came by and as we cleaned, up I decided to roll up the awning and slide the coolers (beer and soda) under the trailer, then went inside and popped a movie into the BluRay player.
A few minutes into the movie it started to get a little windy . . . then all of a sudden a huge microburst blew through the campground, shaking the trailer violently for about five seconds!
After it was over, it was perfectly calm outside . . .
I paused the movie and went outside to look around . . .
Both of the coolers had been blown about 20 feet away from the trailer, and the lawn chairs that I had folded up were scattered about the area around our trailer.
Luckily, our pop-up gazebo that was tied down stayed in place.
Not one of my neighbors had put their awnings or slides in, and every single one of them in our loop (roughly 15 RV's) lost all of their slide toppers and awnings!
All ripped to shreds and the awning arms mangled . . .
Most of them were either large 5th-wheelers or monster motor homes!
They were all outside walking around blurting out expletives notoriously only shouted out by sailors!
The next morning I rolled our awning back out so we could sit under it . . . most of the rest of the RV's that had damage packed up early and left.
I was considering getting a slide topper on our trailer . . . until July 4th., 2014.
