Hurricane Headed Your Way on Vacation? Here’s What You Need to Know

Older adults are more at risk during extreme weather events; hurricane season lasts through Nov. 30

a lifeguard chair knocked over on a beach

Staying safe if a hurricane disrupts your vacation means following orders if there is an evacuation and monitoring communications from authorities.

Getty Images

Gwen Pratesi,

AARP

En español

Published August 16, 2024

Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, became a Category 5 hurricane on July 2, 2024 — the earliest Category 5 storm in the Atlantic on record — reaching wind speeds of up to 165 mph. Combined with above-normal activity predictions for 2024 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the growing numbers of visitors to Florida and the Caribbean, this means it’s possible you could be on vacation when a hurricane strikes.

According to the latest AARP travel survey, 36 percent of travelers 50-plus who had planned an international trip chose the Caribbean or Latin America, while Florida is the most popular domestic destination. Hurricane season lasts from June 1 through Nov. 30, and with NOAA predicting 17 to 25 named storms in 2024, you need to be ready.

Older adults are more at risk during natural disasters and extreme weather events due to mobility challenges, chronic health issues and other concerns, so it’s important to have a plan before you go. In 2022, when Hurricane Ian hit Florida, of the roughly 150 deaths attributed to the disaster, about two-thirds were people 65 or older. Here are some ways to protect yourself before your trip and once you’re on vacation if a hurricane strikes.

Before you go: Buy travel insurance

Jack Ezon, founder and managing partner of luxury travel company EMBARK Beyond, recommends two kinds of insurance to his clients: evacuation insurance and weather insurance, a newer product offered by WeatherPromise and Sensible Weather that protects the cost of your trip in case of bad weather. Travelers also should consider travel insurance plans offering CFAR (Cancel for Any Reason) coverage with companies such as Allianz, Travelex and AIG’s Travel Guard.

If you’re looking for coverage specifically in case of a hurricane, Teresa Tennant, senior vice president of Cruise Specialists, says, “Coverage for trip delay and trip interruption are available for weather events as long as a storm has not yet been named. Once named, it’s a ‘known event,’ and you cannot purchase protection after the fact.”

It’s also important to note that medical coverage is limited if you’re 65 or older, on Medicare and have a medical emergency outside the U.S. Before you buy, ensure the plan you’re considering includes medical coverage.

Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group brands public relations, advises, “Travel insurance varies from provider to provider and policy to policy, so make sure to read the fine print and review the policy to ensure that it provides the right coverage for your needs.”

Cruises vs. land-based trips

If you’ve opted to take a cruise vacation, you may not have to worry about interruptions to your trip.

“Cruise lines are, of course, constantly monitoring the weather reports. When there is news of strong weather systems, hurricane, tropical storm, etc., they will evaluate the need to make any alterations to their itineraries. This gives them some … advantage over land options that are fixed,” Tennant says. Cruise lines can look for alternative ports or reposition the ship and add a day or more at sea, she says. To keep everyone entertained, they can schedule additional programming.

Book your trip through a travel agent

Booking your trip with a travel agent often doesn’t cost extra. And if there’s a problem when you’re in a destination, such as an approaching hurricane, they can assist with a plan of action.

Expedia Group has a Travel Disruption Operations team that monitors the weather, airport delays, cancellations and hotel policies. Fish says this team provides updates and guidance to customer service representatives dealing directly with travelers.

a photo of rainy weather during hurricane Beryl

Terri and Victor Cochran were stuck on the island of Grenada when Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, hit. Grenada felt the effects of the Category 4 storm’s winds.

Courtesy Terry Cochrane

If you’re sitting on the beach and a hurricane is approaching, how do you protect yourself?

With today’s sophisticated weather and storm trackers, it’s unlikely you’ll get caught in an imminent hurricane. However, it can happen. Terri and Victor Cochran, 44 and 48, respectively, owners of the travel agency Family Fun Travels and residents of Picayune, Mississippi, were stuck on the Caribbean island of Grenada during Hurricane Beryl. The storm went from a tropical depression to a Category 4 hurricane within 36 hours and they couldn’t get home. “As a couple … very familiar with hurricanes, we knew we couldn’t depend on the resort to take care of us in a worst-case scenario,” they say. The Cochrans went into town to get provisions. “We also filled our tub with water (a tip for hurricane preparedness) and purchased floats just in case they were needed, and we had a plan of escape [from] our room if we needed to get out quickly or even to higher ground.”

Their best advice to travelers: “Don’t expect the resort to take care of you [for] food or otherwise.… I know many people don’t understand the impact of hurricanes as they don’t live in these areas, but even if it’s not a hurricane, people should be ready to take care of themselves when traveling abroad [especially on an island] without depending on the islanders who have their own families and homes.”

While many hotels are prepared for emergencies with backup generators, safe zones, bottled water, food and first aid supplies, you may need to take steps to protect yourself. For older adults, emergency plans created at home, such as having extra medication, making a paper list of local contacts and phone numbers, planning an evacuation route and ensuring that medical devices are charged, can be beneficial while on vacation.

If you find yourself in this situation and can’t get home (just like the Cochrans), follow these 10 recommendations from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, NOAA and Global Rescue, an international security, medical, travel risk and crisis management service, to stay safe.

1. Follow orders if there’s an evacuation, and monitor communications from local authorities.

2. Before the storm hits, pack a portable survival kit with bottled water, food, medications, toiletries, flashlights and extra batteries. Prepare at least three days of supplies. Write down important phone numbers and place them in a dry, safe place, such as a waterproof bag. If you’re unable to charge your cellphone, this will allow you to access the information.

3. If you have a car (or can rent one), map out the evacuation route and plan where you’ll go to get away from the coast (hotel, shelter, friends, etc.).

4. Carry cash (credit cards may not work during power outages) and ID, such as a passport and driver’s license.

5. If you’re not evacuating, take shelter in an interior room away from glass or in a designated storm shelter.

6. Bring objects from the patio or deck inside, such as tables and chairs.

7. Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwaters.

8. Keep your mobile devices charged so you can communicate — and let family know your plans.

9. Be aware of potential indoor and outdoor hazards when reentering a hotel or house rental after the storm.

10. Most importantly, as NOAA notes about advice from emergency managers: “Run from the water and hide from the wind. Don’t take unnecessary risks during a storm.”

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Gwen Pratesi is a James Beard Award finalist in journalism and an award-winning travel journalist based in Florida. Her work appears in many publications, including U.S. News & World Report, The Points Guy, Cruise Critic, Travel + Leisure, Garden & Gun, Frommer’s and others.