What to do in a sandstorm while camping in the desert

Stay where you are. Get inside a vehicle or a well staked tent, cover your nose and mouth, protect your eyes and wait until you can see again. Do not drive or hike in a dense storm.

Before it hits

Winds often build first. Watch for a wall of dust on the horizon, a sudden change in wind or a local warning.

1. Check the forecast each morning.
2. Lower the tent or pack it, if you can.
3. Stake every corner, add guy lines and anchor with heavy gear. Tent stakes for sand and loose ground explains what holds.
4. Put loose gear in the car or in sealed bags.
5. Park the vehicle with the front or the back to the wind, and keep windows and vents closed.

During the storm

• Stay in the vehicle if you have one, with the engine off unless needed.
• If you are in a tent, sit away from the wind-facing wall.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a damp cloth or mask. Protect your eyes with goggles or sunglasses.
• Sip water, and stay calm.
• Do not drive if you cannot see the road. Pull off the track and turn on hazard lights.

After it passes

Check the vehicle and tent for damage. Shake sand out before it clogs zips, stoves and the car air filter. Check water for dust, and use a clean container.

One reason to stay put

Visibility can drop to a few meters. Leaving camp means getting lost or driving into a ditch. A person on foot can disappear in a minute.

One exception

If the shelter is failing, or a flood risk is rising, move to safer ground only when you can see well enough to do so safely. For other dry-country risks, see desert camping gear for hot-weather nights. Always tell someone your route and return time.