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A Hurricane Is Coming!
How Will It Affect Your Vacation?
By Sharon Waldrop
- Fill the car with gas.
- Visit the ATM machine for cash.
- Check their supply of medical aids and non-perishable food and water.
- Stay in tune with a local news station for storm updates.
- Evacuate if you are staying on the coast, in a high-rise or other dangerous area.
If the hurricane is expected to arrive within 24 hours, the hurricane watch will be upgraded to a warning. A hurricane warning means that the probability of a hurricane is likely. During a hurricane warning, travelers should:
- Stay in tune with a local news station for storm updates.
- Evacuate immediately upon the orders of local officials and travel inland.
- Advise someone out of the danger area of your evacuation plans.
If officials are conducting an evacuation, it is important to take the action seriously. In areas that are not in a direct path of the hurricane or a flood-prone area, it is wise to remain in place if recommended by the authorities. In some situations, it is safer to be in a small, confined area rather than "an easily tossed-around vehicle in a traffic jam," says Peterson.
Peterson recommends keeping a battery-operated radio on hand in the event of a hurricane or any other disaster. In many areas, emergency news information can be tuned in immediately above and below the AM dial.
After a hurricane, it is important to remain tuned in to a local radio or television station. Do not return to your original vacation destination until you receive confirmation that the area is safe. Do not drive on washed-out roads or damaged roads or bridges. Be aware that tap water can be contaminated.
Want to see more?
- Hurricane Tips: American Red Cross Urges You to Take Lifesaving Steps to Prepare Now
- American Family Safety Offers Hurricane Preparedness Advice: Preparing Before a Storm Hits Is Key to Protecting Your Family in an Emergency
- Keeping Cool: Babies at the Beach
- Check out our Article Library.
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