It shouldn’t need to be said, but I’ll say it, hurricanes are unpredictable. There is no way of knowing the damage they will cause and the effect they will have on your holiday. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to be as prepared as possible for them when travelling in hurricane season.
Hurricane season usually runs from June to November affecting countries in and around the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. For many of the nations, especially in the Caribbean, hurricane season coincides with
Travel Insurance
You should always be fully covered when travelling, but this rings even truer when travelling during hurricane season. Ensure that you are insured for flight delays, loss of property and (touch wood) the big things like injury or loss of life. It’s a good idea to buy your travel insurance well in advance, as once a storm is predicted the cost can be exuberant or may not cover everything you need.
Make sure you have your insurance confirmation number and details on your throughout the trip. If a hurricane turns up, you’ll be asked for them when calling your insurance company.
Keep In Contact
Register your travel plans and contact details with your government or smart traveller agencies online. Have the contact details of
Give your travel plans to a family member or friend back home and keep in touch where possible. It’s important that you keep your phone charged. Power may go down during a storm so make sure you have a fully charged portable USB charger.
Pack The Essentials
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If possible, when you arrive at your destination, stock up on bottled water and non-perishable foods. Getting them early will save you waiting in line for them once the hurricane warnings start.
A first aid kit is a good idea and it’s imperative that you have any prescription medications on you and that you have enough for the whole trip.
Keep your passport and other important documents on you at all times, ideally in a ziplock bag to keep them dry.
Say Informed
Keeping up to date on information once a hurricane has struck can be difficult, especially if you don’t speak the local language. Be sure to do as much research on the evacuation protocol for wherever you are prior to arrival.
Call your closest embassy for more information and to keep them up to date on your location. Regularly check local weather sites, TV and radio stations for updates.
Get out early, don’t wait until the last minute to make your way to safety. By leaving early you will beat the rush of people fleeing. If you do decide to stay throughout the hurricane make sure you are in an interior room with doors closed. Do not go outside during a storm to “check the weather” as you risk being hit by flying debris.
If you’ve ever travelled in hurricane season share your experience with us in the comment section below. Or if you wanting to book your next adventure, perhaps to somewhere drier click here.
