The upcoming Memorial Day weekend is a popular time for outdoor activities like camping or floating down the Merrimac. But, with heavy storms and high winds on the radar, people are ready to take cover. Boaters might be forced to change their plans around.
Missouri State Parks tells us its best tool in this kind of a situation is the National Weather Service, which broadcasts severe weather alerts over the radio. It will call out state parks by name - and that's the cue for the park superintendent to jump in.
James Curren and his wife, are full-time RV’ers and have been traveling up and down the East Coast and following along the Mississippi. They were not expecting bad weather.
"In fact, the fella' across the street told us there was maybe going to be a tornado or something," described Curren of how he learned of the impending storms.
Seasoned campers, Earl and Rebecca Mouser, say this is not their first time camping through a storm. So, they're making sure their tent is tied down and water tight.
"I double staked, triple staked the pegs so hopefully it stays," Mouser explained.
The Missouri State Parks says it will have people on the ground notifying campers if there is a shift in weather.
"We have cinder block and/or brick shower houses and public restrooms and those are really the safest buildings that we have in the event of a severe weather event," said Kevin Albrecht, the Assistant District Supervisor for Eastern Parks District of Missouri State Parks.
As for the people spending the weekend on the water, places like Bass River Resort, in Crawford County, is handing out advisories so that campers know to listen for a continuous horn. That is a signal to take shelter.
Back at the camp site, some are opting to leave before the storm hits.
"We're actually planning on heading out for a fish fry tomorrow afternoon, so we will hopefully be gone by the time the really bad weather starts," explained Tara Sanders, who is camping with her husband, Keith, and three children.
Others, like Curren, are just putting some extra precautions in place.
"Because I hadn’t planned on battening anything down...so tonight, I will," he said.
Missouri State Parks says there will be guides on the water throughout the weekend.
Many resorts and camping grounds, like Blue Springs Ranch, in Bourbon, Missouri, are closing floating early on Saturday.
