I am currently on a long-term contract assignment in Atlanta, 1000 miles from home. Although I have (expensive!) covered ramp parking at the client site downtown during the workdays, I am staying in an extended stay type hotel in the suburbs that has only uncovered parking.
The other day, a series of hailstorms went through, and although they missed the hotel, they did up to $1 million of damage per car dealer at a number of car dealers just a few miles away, and lots of motorists were caught away from their garages, with too few gas station overhangs to shelter many cars.
Although my contingency plan if I suspect a storm is coming is to go to a nearby shopping center parking ramp, that isn't a great plan when the conditions are "right" for hail for an extended time - like all evening or all night.
I was thinking that some sort of PADDED cover might be an idea, or even an unpadded one under which I could lay some sheet foam or blankets. To work, the cover would need to be securable in some way, as hailstorms normally can also involve considerable wind. So, it would likely have to be a cover especially made for the SSR.
Or, is there a better idea?
Yes, the hotel has a lobby overhang, but I couldn't stay there "all night", and there would likely be intense compeition for that one covered spot if a storm appeared.
What other practical ideas can the creative minds on this board come up with?
Jim G
