Hurricane Season? We’re Here to Help

Each year, the Atlantic hurricane season wreaks havoc across the Caribbean, Bahamas, South Eastern U.S. and the Gulf Coast. Although some years are worse than others, travel to these regions can be tricky for business travelers and tourists alike. A prime example is Hurricane Dorian.

Blowing into the Bahamas as a category 5, Dorian ravaged the archipelago, leaving insurmountable devastation in its wake. CNBC reports that Dorian likely caused an estimated $1.5B to $3B worth of damage in the Caribbean. Pertaining to the Bahamas, the news outlet cites, “Hundreds, if not thousands, are still missing in the country of about 400,000 people, and officials say the death toll, which stands at 30, is likely to shoot up as more bodies are discovered in the ruins and floodwaters left behind by the storm.” Although weakened, Dorian continued north from the Bahamas to wreak havoc on the southeastern seaboard of the U.S., causing extensive damage and flooding. A catastrophic storm, to stay the least. Our thoughts are with those impacted. To support relief efforts, you can contribute directly to the Grand Bahama Disaster Relief or donate to the organizations and volunteers on the ground here.

Hurricanes Defined

By definition a hurricane is, “An intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a well-defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or higher.” Atlantic hurricane season spans from June 1 through November 30, typically reaching its peak from mid-August through the end of October. There is also a Pacific hurricane season that starts approximately two weeks earlier and ends on the same day.

From a ranking perspective, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale rates from 1-5.

Source: National Hurricane Center

Travel to Hurricane-Prone Zones in Peak Season

For business travel especially, avoiding the Atlantic hurricane basin from mid-August through mid-October isn’t realistic. However, we do have a few suggestions for business travelers heading to a hurricane-prone zone during peak season:

1. Know your airline’s weather disruption policy prior to booking and choose a carrier that will allow you to make changes to the itinerary without penalty if a storm should occur.

2. When it comes to lodging, business travelers should review a hotels hurricane plan, cancellation policies, and how guests are handled if a tropical weather event arrives. It is also advised to book a place further inland.

3. Buy travel insurance. More so than any other time of year, travel insurance is a must during hurricane season. SquareMouth is a great resource that compares 95 travel insurance policies from 24 providers.

There’s No Place Like Home

Dorian’s impact could be felt far beyond the areas in its direct path. Business Insider reports that the hurricane closed five airports and cancelled approximately 3,000 flights on September 2nd and 3rd alone across the US.

For TravelBank customers waylaid by Dorian, or any other weather event for that matter, our customer support team is always available to help business travelers in a sticky situation. We are available 24/7/365 to rebook flights, find lodging, look into alternative transportation, and more.

TravelBank also functions as the agent of record for all ticketing and bookings. As a result, your road warriors will never be turned over to third-party customer service organizations–we will be in touch with them every step of the way, triaging their travel dilemma.

It’s our goal to provide on-the-road employees and their supervisors with the peace-of-mind that in the event of a travel emergency, there is a team of managed travel experts in place to get them home safely.