The 2013 Hurricane season has been pretty quiet, but it might not be over yet. Some are predicting that the hurricane season could get more intense late in the season, so travelers should be cautious.
The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted that between 13 and 19 named storms and six hurricanes will occur in the 2013 hurricane season. The first named hurricane, Hurricane Humberto, didn't occur until September 11 and the most active part of the hurricane season has yet to come. Last year, Superstorm Sandy occurred on October 29, 2012. The hurricane season doesn't end until November 30.
"The beginning of hurricane season is not necessarily a reflection of the latter part of the season," said Lori Whitt, Vice President, Travel Guard North America. "With this in mind, we encourage travelers to be prepared for a hurricane or tropical storm when they travel during hurricane season."
Travel insurance company, Travel Guard, is giving a heads up to travelers this hurricane season. They advise that travel insurance should be purchased at least 24 hours before a hurricane is named or it will be too late for travel insurance's trip cancellation and trip interruption benefit to cover losses due to the storm.
Travelers also have to take certain things into consideration if a hurricane may possibly affect travel plans. For instance, if a hurricane makes landfall before take-off, a traveler should check their hotel, airport and air carrier websites and social media channels to monitor updates for delays, cancellations and evacuations. They should also consider signing up for flight status alerts on mobile devices.
If an airport closes due to a hurricane, travel insurance may cover the expenses incurred as a result of the delay and accommodations and travel expensive may be covered until travel is possible after the poor weather.
Travelers can benefit from trip cancellation or trip interruption coverage. For instance, when an airport is closed due to high wind or if an evacuation is ordered for a hotel or if roads aren't accessible, travel insurance can come in handy. If a hotel or resort is damaged and cannot be occupied, non-refundable costs are also covered.
If a hurricane happens during a vacation, travelers should keep close tabs on the news. They should follow instructions by the hotel and local authorities. Travelers should stay indoors.
Travel Guard's insurance can provide assistance for medical needs or referrals to local hospitals, assistance with cash transfers, replacement of lost travel documents, pre-trip health and safety advisories and relaying messages to family and friends back home.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
