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5 Tips to Traveling During Hurricane Season

Last Updated On 11/4/2020

If you’re planning a trip to a hurricane-prone destination, especially during hurricane season, make sure you’re prepared and informed. The weather might be unpredictable, but here are five tips for easier traveling during hurricane season:

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Stay Alert & Informed

When you enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), you can opt to receive safety updates on countries you plan to visit, weather related or not. There are many other helpful resources on this website that can help give you more peace of mind about your future travels. You can also check the National Hurricane Center website for updates leading up to your trip – they usually name a hurricane 36-48 hours in advance.

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Purchase Travel Insurance Early

Most comprehensive travel insurance policies include cancellation coverage in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm. Purchase your plan early, because you will no longer be able to purchase a policy with coverage for a named storm once it’s deemed “foreseeable”. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common travel mistakes made by policy holders. You can guarantee coverage for non-refundable expenses when you purchase your policy right after you make your first trip deposit.

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Our team of friendly humans would be happy to help you find a policy with hurricane insurance so you can plan your trip with peace of mind. Give us a call or shoot us an email to walk through which travel insurance plan has the cancellation benefits you need.

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Pack Smart

Your trip is finally here and the weather looks like it’s going to hold! Make sure you’re still prepared if something changes. Pack a small first aid kit, battery-powered flashlight, and non-perishable foods just in case a natural disaster heads your way. Having enough cash for you and your family for two weeks is recommended, since ATMs might not be accessible during and after the storm. You’ll need food and transportation somehow!

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Plan an Emergency Departure

Is it going to be hard for you to get out of the country if necessary? It’s important to check out transportation options, especially if you’re traveling outside the United States. If your vacation is stateside, look at renting a car to drive to a safe zone. When traveling in a land-locked country, consider buses that route to a safe zone or safer neighboring country. If your vacation is happening on an island, this can be a bit more tricky, so your options are limited to boat and plane. Just make sure you check the schedules because the routes fill up fast when there’s a storm about to hit. Having a plan is better than no plan!

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Determine the Stability of Your Location

Strong hurricane winds and high tidal waves can do major damage to infrastructure. If you’re staying along the beach, moving as inland as possible would be a great option. If flooding is another hazard at your destination, we recommend staying at a government-determined safe zone. Wooden buildings are highly unstable in a hurricane, so you should relocate to a more secure location. For peace of mind knowing it can withstand the storm, moving to a shelter is your best bet for staying safe.

Planning a trip? Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance! Click through the button below to start comparing travel insurance policies from the nation’s top providers now!

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