For many in Central Ohio, camping is a way of life. The recent tragedy in Arkansas has local campgrounds taking a good hard look at their procedures during a weather emergency -- especially with the July 4 weekend around the corner.
David and Barbara Konkright have a camper, a grill and plenty of Mother Nature all around them. After all, they're avid campers.
"It's peaceful. It's quiet," said Barbara.
It's just the way they like it. But they know with beauty, comes risk -- risk that was seen all too well Friday in Arkansas.
"Makes you sick," said Barbara. "You just hate to think people want to have a good time and enjoy themselves and end up losing their families."
They make it a point to take precautions.
"We have a weather band that we keep on most of the time and we have first-aid kits," says David.
Joey Stewart owns the 70-lot Lakeview RV Park in Lancaster. He said the tragedy only reinforces the importance of being prepared. He said they're not concerned about their lake flooding, but one thing they are concerned about are huge trees that tower over the campground.
"It could completely destroy a camper. So we're really concerned about trees," said Stewart.
Though tornado sirens can be heard at the campground, the Stewarts still go camper-to-camper.
"If we know there's a big storm, we're gonna be alert and passing the word. We've got some volunteer camp posts here that help us and they'll also be doing the same thing," says Stewart.
They have first-aid kits, maps to the hospital and emergency numbers centrally located. They've also given a map of the park to the fire department.
It's all part of an emergency plan that no one at the park wants to see put to the test.
Officials with ODNR said that many of Ohio's 56 state parks are not located where flooding is a major concern. They said if they are alerted by their statewide communications center or the local EMA about a weather emergency, park staff will take necessary measures to notify or evacuate visitors.
Ohio state parks also use an online reservation center so records are readily available electronically.
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