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Hurricane Katrina, 2005

Rental Motor Home Industry Sees Surge in Demand from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The rental motor home industry is experiencing an unprecedented surge in demand due to the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Major corporations, including Walgreens and CNN, are renting motor homes from as far as Alaska, Canada, and New York to house emergency workers and alleviate the corporate housing shortage along the Gulf Coast. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is also utilizing trailers and other vehicles to provide shelter for evacuees.

Key Takeaways:

  • Major corporations, such as ABC Motorhome & Car Rentals, Nolan's RV and Marine, El Monte RV, and Cruise America, are sending motor homes from as far as Alaska, Canada, and New York to the Gulf Coast to house emergency workers and alleviate the housing shortage.
  • Over 1,400 motor homes have been sent to the Gulf Coast, with some companies reporting that they are readying additional units for deployment.
  • Motor home rentals are being used by companies such as Walgreens, which has rented more than 50 motor homes to house employees who are caring for the prescription needs of New Orleans evacuees.
  • Motor home rentals are providing a much-needed solution for corporate housing along the Gulf Coast, with some companies reporting that they are serving as an "ocean of good news" for the industry.
  • Some motor home rentals are even being used to provide shelter for evacuees, with CNN renting about 20 motor homes and reporting positive reviews from users.

Statistics:

  • 1,400 motor homes have been sent to the Gulf Coast to date.
  • 62 motor homes were sent by ABC Motorhome & Car Rentals from Anchorage to the Gulf Coast.
  • 15 motor homes were rented by Nolan's RV and Marine from Denver to the government, news media, and clean-up companies.
  • 300 motor homes are currently on the scene for El Monte RV, with between 400-500 expected to be deployed in the coming weeks.
  • 400 motor homes were rented by Cruise America for use in the Gulf region.
  • Some motor home rentals are costing as little as $110 a day, while others are being driven in from as far as Florida for $1,000 and from California for $2,000.

Sources:

  • "RV Business", a trade publication, quoted Sherman Goldenberg, publisher, stating that "It's an ocean of good news for every aspect of this industry."
  • ABC Motorhome & Car Rentals, owner John Marquardt, stating that the company is sending 62 motor homes to the Gulf Coast and readying another 140 units.
  • Nolan's RV and Marine, rental manager Ben Angel, stating that the company rented 15 motor homes to the government, news media, and clean-up companies and cut its rates to $135 a day.
  • El Monte RV, Senior Vice President Tucker Schork, stating that the company is using Orlando and Dallas as sites to feed motor homes into the Gulf Coast as needed and has about 300 motor homes on the scene.
  • Cruise America, stating that about 400 motor homes were rented for use in the Gulf region and 40 were driven in for free to shelter evacuees.
  • Walgreens, spokeswoman Carol Hively, stating that the company rented more than 50 motor homes for Katrina and might add more because of Rita.
  • CNN, senior vice president Jane Maxwell, stating that the company rented about 20 motor homes and that reviews of motor home living were good.

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