Hurricanes are giant, spiraling tropical storms that can pack wind speeds of over 160 miles an hour and unleash more than 2.4 trillion gallons of rain a day. The Atlantic Ocean’s hurricane season is from June to November and peaks from mid-August to late October.
So if you are planning a visit…
Be aware before you book: Before reserving a room, ask your hotel or resort about their hurricane policies – many will refund the unused portion of your trip, while others will give you a voucher.
Consider trip cancellation insurance: If you don’t take insurance and you go, you’re kind of putting yourself at the mercy of the airlines and the resorts. If you’re planning to purchase a policy, read it carefully and see what’s covered and what’s not.
If you are Already Visiting…
The best defense against a hurricane is to pay attention to the forecast. You will have plenty of warning of an approaching hurricane.
If a hurricane is likely: You should know where to take shelter. Big hotels that have experience with hurricanes know where to put guests to keep them safe, but if you’re staying at a smaller property, find out where you can ride out a hurricane in a local storm shelter. Ask your hotel about an evacuation plan and pack some cash, bottled water and portable food, such as protein bars, just in case.
Listen to the radio or TV for information
Grab a good book, stock up on a few snacks, make sure you have a few days supply of any medication that you require and you will be fine.
After a significant storm transportation off the island may be temporarily unavailable depending on the state of the airport and what damage it might have sustained. Be patient. Things will normalize within a few days. The hotels and resorts are well prepared for these scenarios and will have plenty of water and food as well as electricity supplied by generators. They will notify you when the airlines have resumed flights.
