It is unlikely you'll experience dust storms the magnitude of the one in the movie Hildago anywhere in the United States, but wind just about anywhere can kick up enough dust from dry desert areas, fallow fields, or construction sites to be a problem. And you can encounter "dust devils" just about anywhere especially in the desert. Dust storms stirred up by monsoon winds in southern Arizona can come up surprisingly fast and be extremely thick, seriously limiting visibility and sometimes quickly clogging vehicle air filters.
Dust devils are not usually particularly dangerous unless you happen to be smack in the middle of one. They are essentially mini-tornados. They are usually short lived and not strong enough to cause much damage. Your biggest concern if you're caught in one or overtaken by one will be your eyes. They can kick up quite a bit of small debris that can be very painful and dangerous if it blows into your eyes. If you're on horseback, you'll need to consider your horse's eyes too. On an OHV, the engine might suck up debris from the spinning wind so "dust busting" by riding through them to disrupt them is not a good idea. Sucking crap into the engine might be a quick way to make it seize or to bore it out a few over sizes, which pretty much wipes out compression. You don't even want to think about what it could do to your lungs -- or your eyes!
If a dust storm is approaching your base camp, make sure everything is securely tied down or properly stored inside. Blowing dust means there is wind! Close all the windows and vents on your tent or RV. Roll up awnings and put away canopies. Put away your camp chairs, inside if you have room but if not, even putting them under your vehicle will give them some protection from blowing away. If you leave your OHVs outside, cover the air intakes to prevent dust from blowing in and clogging the air filter and possibly damaging the engine.
If you get caught in a dust storm out on the trail, seek shelter as soon as possible. If you have enough warning, head back to camp and secure your camp. If you can't get back to camp before it hits you, look for any kind of shelter -- a cave, a thicket, even a gully (if there is no chance of flash flooding in the area). Dust storms reduce visibility and increase the probability of accidents, so slow down until you can find shelter. If you're in an open area with no shelter available, stop, stuff your gloves, bandana, or other spare clothing into the air intake of your OHV, and use your vehicle to provide your body some protection against the wind and debris. Keep your goggles on or cover your face to protect your eyes. Breathe through a neckerchief or bandana. If you don't have one (and you should if you've been paying attention to this blog's recommendations for riding gear), pull your jersey or T-shirt up over your mouth and nose to filter out as much dust as you can. Your tummy may get dusty and cold but your lungs weren't designed to run on dust. You can wash and warm your tummy when you get back to camp. Your lungs, not so much.
One of the greatest hazards of a dust storm is loss of visibility. How far you can see and how clearly you can see will be greatly reduced. Blowing dust and debris might even be enough to blind you at least temporarily if you don't have adequate eye protection. Or the blowing dust itself may reduce visibility to zero. When visibility is restricted, reduce your speed so you don't overdrive your sight picture. When visibility drops to zero, STOP! Keep in mind the storm is going to reduce other rider's visibility, making it harder for them to see you too, so you want to avoid being where other traffic is likely. The dust storm won't last forever, even if it seems like it does. Dust may prevent you from seeing obstacles or other hazards in your way.
Breathing may become difficult if the dust is thick or the storm lasts a long time. You may be able to filter out some of the dust by covering your mouth and nose with a bandanna or other cloth covering. A light weight ski mask or balaclava like you use for warmth would also work. In a pinch you can make a sort of Ninja mask using a T-shirt. Pull the shirt over your head until the neck is above your nose. Then reach behind your head and pull the bottom of the shirt up over your head and down to your eyebrows. Then grab the sleeves and tie them behind your head. This make-shift Ninja mask also works well in cold weather to warm your head, ears, nose and cheeks. Dampening a mask or bandana with a little water will improve its ability to filter out the dust, but it may be cold as the water evaporates and may get clogged quicker than a dry mask.
When its over, be careful clearing covers from air intakes so you don't dump the accumulated dust into the opening you were trying to protect. Dust yourself off as best you can and clean your goggles. Be careful of the trails back to camp. Blowing dust may have concealed obstacles, ruts, or holes that could be dangerous. Riding or even just walking may kick up a lot more dust than usual and affect visibility, so exercise caution. Even a light breeze may create dust clouds that obscure the trail and landmarks. Dust filled ruts or rocks hidden in accumulated dust are potential disasters waiting for you to find them.
Cleaning up camp after dust storm. You'll probably want to sweep or shake your awning mat. Gently brush loose dust from windows and flat surfaces. Sweep the dust off your picnic table and wipe it down with a damp cloth and perhaps some disinfectant cleaner. If you put your chairs under your vehicle, get them out and shake or brush the dust off them. Dust off any equipment that was left outside. Clean your RV and vehicle windows. You will probably need to dust at least the horizontal surfaces inside your tent or RV too and clean off the picnic table.
Dust off!
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