Traveling To The Hurricane Belt?

You can never be sure where your next business trip will take you. Some of the nicest destinations (such as Florida or the Caribbean) are also the ones prone to be affected by tropical storms and hurricanes during the June to November period. And there are also other places where storms can strike unexpectedly. So [...]

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Written by Travel News on August 19th, 2009 with no comments.
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You can never be sure where your next business trip will take you. Some of the nicest destinations (such as Florida or the Caribbean) are also the ones prone to be affected by tropical storms and hurricanes during the June to November period. And there are also other places where storms can strike unexpectedly. So how can you do your best to stay safe if you’re going to one of those areas?

Tips for traveling into a hurricane zone

Watch Or Warning?

One of the key things is to pay attention to the news and know the terminology. A key resource is the National Hurricane Center. If a hurricane watch is issued, then there may be a hurricane within the next 24 to 36 hours. If it’s a hurricane warning, then a hurricane is expected within 24 hours. Accuweather’s advice is ‘run from water, hide from wind’. In other words, stay away from areas likely to flood if a storm surge is coming, and if the wind is rising, then the most interior room of your accommodation is the best place to be.

In Your Case

Things to have in your suitcase, just in case you have to evacuate, include a map of the area (or GPS, of course), a radio and a flashlight, both with spare batteries. It won’t hurt to have some bottled water and snacks too.

Planning To Stay Put

If you don’t have to evacuate, then there are other preparations you should make. Your hotel will probably take care of these, but if you happen to be staying at a private residence, then you will need to:

seal and lock windows
get important documents together in a resealable waterproof bag
move any portable items inside so that they don’t become missiles in a high wind
stock up on canned food and bottled water, and collect water in tubs, bottles and whatever you have
make sure flashlights and radios have spare batteries
prepare a mini first aid kit
get some cash from the ATM
stay inside, sitting on the floor of the most interior room

Keep listening for updates. Once it’s all over, it’s important to avoid drinking water till you know it’s safe. Also, keep a lookout for pests which may have sought refuge from the storm.

(Photo: msand39)