Okay, so you know a storm is coming. You set up your camp, already made dinner, and you are now in your tent. Now what? Well suppose you got wet while making dinner. The most important thing is to get dry. If it is even slightly chilly outside and you are wet, you can develop hypothermia. Your rain jacket is waterproof, so if you need to, you can leave it outside. If you are in a large tent, you can also drape it over your pack to dry. If you have a gear loft in your tent, you can hang clothes there to dry. If you do this, be sure to put a towel down as to not soak your sleeping bag.
If, before you set out, you know it is about to rain, you are better off bringing a bigger tent or a hammock. If you bring a smaller, one person tent that is just big enough to sleep in, you will be uncomfortable trying to do anything in it. If it rains for a full evening and you have a larger tent, you can sit up and read or whatever it is you do. With a hammock, you can sit sideways in it like a chair so you don't have this problem. However, if you are camping in a hammock, you may have difficulty undressing without getting wet. Unless you are skilled and experienced in hammock camping, you are probably better off bringing a tent if you know it's going to rain.
The big concern I have always had is "if my tent is wet and I pack it up to hike for the day, will it mold?" Unlikely. I have a buddy who, at one time, packed his tent up when wet and didn't get to airing it out until about 2 weeks later and it didn't mold. Of course, this depends on your climate. If you are hiking a trail and are packing up to move on with intentions of pitching your tent that night, you won't have any problems with mold. However, there are some things you can do to prevent mold. First, when the trip is over, set your tent out for a couple days to dry. Second, if you had your tent put away when wet, turn the stuff sack inside out to allow it to dry as well.
As far as clothing, the sooner you get it dry, the better. When in your tent, wring it as much water as you can, then hang it to dry. If you have any type of fabric that absorbs water, be sure to dry it out because it can mold quickly. If it is a waterproofed material, it will take longer to mold. When you are only doing a few day trip, you shouldn't have to worry about drying anything out until you get home. But if you are doing a week or longer, be sure to dry everything out as you go.
You already know to wear clothing to keep you dry, but in the morning, you could get pretty miserable treading through mud. If you suspect it's going to rain, be sure to have good waterproofed shoes. In addition, you want some good, waterproof gators. These will keep your pants dry and keep from getting water in your shoes.
As far as what to do to wait out a storm? Well, I normally take a book along. This is a great way to pass the time. Every once in a while, I'll take my harmonica and could play it for hours to occupy myself. If you hadn't made dinner yet, you certainly can do that. However, there are some things to be aware of.
When cooking in your tent, gases from the stove create carbon monoxide which is very dangerous. When cooking, be sure you have plenty of ventilation. If your tent has a vestibule, you are better off cooking in it. When in the tent, be sure your stove in on a flat surface. It could be bad if your stove tips over and lights your tent ablaze. Best thing to remember is avoid tipping the stove over, and be sure to have plenty of ventilation.
The main goal is to keep as dry as possible and minimize how much gear gets wet. Be sure you dry out all you can, when you can to avoid mold. Overall, camping in the rain can be a pleasurable experience. On the other side, it can be miserable if you don't prepare right. If you have any questions or tips, please comment.
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