It’s that time of year again: Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1 and ends November 30. If you live in or must travel to a hurricane-prone area, prepare ahead of time for the possibility of storms:
1. Get informed
First things first: Get informed. If you must travel abroad, please consult the Travel Advisory for your destination so that you can make an informed decision about your trip. Take time to learn about the country, including entry/exit requirements imposed by COVID-19, visa requirements, curfews and local health conditions, local laws and customs, and the availability of local health care . Keep the contact details of the nearest US embassy or consulate with you. We are available for emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, abroad and in Washington, DC at 1-888-407-4747 for domestic calls or 202-501-4444 for international calls. We also encourage you to review our Traveler’s Checklist to make sure you’re prepared if you’re faced with any challenges.
2. Consider purchasing additional travel insurance
If you must travel to hurricane-prone areas, consider purchasing travel insurance. A small additional cost before you book your flight can avoid a much higher cost later on. Standard travel insurance typically covers the cost of your lost luggage and canceled flights; however, it may not cover the cost of evacuations or medical care. Especially during hurricane season, make sure you have coverage for emergency evacuations and medical care abroad. Be sure to read the fine print of your policy for any pandemic restrictions, as some insurance companies will not cover evacuations during a pandemic. Without insurance, emergency evacuations can cost more than $100,000. Understand that if the US government evacuates you from an area affected by a hurricane, you will be required to sign a promissory note and will be responsible for paying the cost of your evacuation.
3. Prepare an Emergency Plan
Before traveling abroad, carefully consider the potential dangers and inconveniences of traveling to storm-prone regions of the world, especially given the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on countries around the world. If you know your destination is particularly storm-prone or you don’t have the infrastructure to deal with storm damage, it’s best to plan for an emergency. Consider the following questions:
Will outbound flights be available before a storm? Will someone in your party need extra assistance and time to get away in an emergency situation? How will you keep your travel documents secure and easily accessible? What’s the best way to protect yourself and your fellow passengers if you can’t leave before the storm? How will the shortage of essential items affect (including medications) due to the COVID-19 pandemic affect your ability to shelter in place? How will the shortage of local medical resources due to the pandemic affect you?
Also, families should take a moment to think about ways to communicate in the event of a hurricane. For example, update your social media status frequently and message as often as possible to let your friends and family know how you’re doing. We also suggest having a written list of emergency contacts in case you are unable to access information on your cell phone.
If you’re traveling with pets, plan for their safety in case of an emergency. US government evacuation flights are typically unable to accommodate pets. Get your pet out on a commercial flight before a hurricane. If that’s not possible, you may need to find someone locally to take care of your pet. Plan to leave enough food and water supplies for them in case a crisis makes it impossible to move or makes local water undrinkable.
4. Monitor local news sources and the National Hurricane Center for weather updates
If you must travel during storm season, stay abreast of developments by monitoring local media and the National Hurricane Center for news and weather reports. Minor storms can quickly become hurricanes, limiting the time to get out. If a weather emergency occurs, please stay in contact with your tour operator, hotel staff, and local authorities for evacuation instructions. You can save your life.
5. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
Now, more than ever, it is important to register your international trip in STEP. Enrolling your trip in STEP allows you to receive information about health and safety conditions at your destination, and helps the US embassy or consulate contact you in an emergency.
For more information on how to prepare for hurricanes abroad, visit:
For up-to-date alerts, you can also monitor the website, Facebook page, and Twitter account of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General at your travel destination, follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and Facebook , and visit travel.state. government
About the author: Alyssa Zalenski is a Public Affairs Officer with the Digital Engagement Team at the US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Source: www.state.gov