Travel and Weather Safety

There’s always the temptation to travel during hurricane season. There’s no denying the fact that prices are much more affordable, but at what cost? Being trapped in an unknown area during a hurricane is the last thing you want for your family. But how to do you avoid it? How can you travel on a budget, but keep your family safe? Let’s look at weather safety and knowing where to travel and when not to.

 

 

 

Research the Weather of the Area You Want to Travel To

Take the time to carefully research the area you want to travel to. When does that area get the most impact from hurricanes or other forms of bad weather? Chances are this is considered one of the areas off seasons. For obvious reasons, people usually avoid these areas during this time of the year. Be knowledgeable about when weather events usually occur and their severity. 

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

You always want to be prepared for the unexpected. If you’re going to be traveling to an area that has bad weather during that time of the year, you need to have a backup plan. If you arrive and need to leave, where will you go? Determine where the shelters are or which inland areas will the easiest and closest to get to. Of course, you must remember, there will be thousands of people evacuating that live in the area. This means that hotels will fill up quickly. You also want to have emergency gear in your car. This includes bottles of water, protein bars, a flashlight, flares, rain gear, etc. Disasters affect everyone, it takes everyone  youth, parents, community members to help prepare. Visit http://www.fema.gov to learn more

Choose Locations Less Likely to Experience Bad Weather

Yes, hurricanes hit the coast, but that doesn’t mean that all coastal areas are in danger. For example, Coastal New England only experiences a hurricane return every 30 to 50 years while areas of Florida experience a return every 7 years. This isn’t guaranteed safety, but it’s easy to see that a New England coastal vacation may be safer.

Never Underestimate Mother Nature

Never, ever underestimate Mother Nature. There will be people in the coastal areas that shrug off hurricanes and say that the weather people make it sound worse than it is. There are even areas that claim to never be affected. One of those areas was Mexico Beach. Hurricanes rarely affected the area until Hurricane Michael. Just because it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Walk Away from Your Deposit, If Necessary

People often book vacations months in advance. As vacation time draws near, the weather may throw a few surprises your way. Don’t be afraid to walk away from a deposit, if necessary. There is no amount of money worth putting your family in danger. If travel insurance is offered and you are going to a destination likely to have bad weather.. don’t skip it.

Weather can be tricky and unpredictable. Make sure you’re doing everything possible to plan a safe vacation and be willing to walk away if needed.