And it seems that there are more and more natural disasters every year that are threatening the Atlantic and other areas. For instance, a just a few days ago, leaving over 1400 dead, 6900 injured, and massive destruction to property in its wake.
That said, it’s not uncommon for natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes to occur when one is on vacation.
It’s best to always be prepared so that in the event of a natural disaster, you can remain calm and ensure the safety of your loved ones. Here are a few things you can do before traveling to prepare yourself for the unfortunate event of a natural disaster.
1. Be Prepared
The key to safety in the event of a natural disaster lies in your preparedness. Here are a few things to do before leaving home.
- Find out what type of natural disasters happen in the area you’re traveling
- Identify a safe place for your family and others you’re traveling with to meet if separated
- Lookup for alerts of impending natural disasters in the area you’re traveling
Natural disasters tend to have seasons.
For instance, in the US, tornadoes usually strike the Midwest in the Spring. However, in the Caribbean, hurricanes occur in June but tend to heat up in August and September.
Though there is no specific flood season, most flooding in the US occurs from Spring to fall. For , the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends finding out about your overall risk level by looking up the flood zone of the area you intend to travel to.
Knowing the time of the year when specified natural disasters occur can help you take precautions or simply change your destination.
2. Get Travel Insurance
Get travel insurance and know exactly what it covers.
Whether you’re traveling to a disaster-prone area or not, travel insurance can save the day. While many plans cover medical expenses, there are other things to consider when purchasing a travel insurance plan.
For instance, trip interruption is one thing to look out for in an insurance plan.
In the event your travel gets interrupted, good travel insurance can refund some of the funds spent. Medical evacuation is also very important as you may need to be airlifted to a hospital in the US if you’re outside the country.
3. Enroll in STEP
The Smart Traveler Enrolment Program, commonly known as STEP, can assist you in the event of a natural disaster.
Through the program, you’ll receive regular security and travel updates about the destination in which you’re registered.
In addition, in the event of a natural disaster, STEP will keep you updated on curfews, road closures, and other relevant information related to your travel destination.
What’s more, they can help you if you lose your passport. For example, after the Nepal earthquake, STEP evacuated over 15,000 US citizens and their family members. You can sign up at step.state.gov.
4. Carry an Emergency Preparedness Kit
In an accident, a medical emergency kit with basic first-aid suppliers can help you hold on until you receive medical attention.
Your emergency preparedness kit should not only have medical suppliers.
recommends travelers to carry at least three days’ worth of food, water, and sanitation suppliers. They also recommend you to have other necessities, like a flashlight and local maps, that might come in handy in the event of a disaster.
Wrapping Up
Natural disasters are inevitable, but how we get through them depends on how well prepared we are. So the best thing to do is prepare a plan which will highlight the escape routes and what to do in the event of a disaster, and share it with everyone you’ll be traveling with.
