Taking the Kids: Traveling through hurricane season
I feel your pain. I know what it’s like when weather derails your plans. Nearly 10 years ago, I was in Orlando when Tropical Storm Andrea messed up our theme and water park plans.
But that was nothing like Category 4 Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Florida Wednesday with 150 mph winds, tying for the fifth strongest hurricane to strike the United States and wreaking havoc with flooding, devastating winds, and millions left without power – or having to evacuate.
Orlando was virtually shut down with theme parks and special events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights (rebooking and refunds should be available) suspended. Airlines canceled more than 3,800 flights Wednesday and Thursday, most at Florida airports, the Washington Post reported.
It's important to keep up with storm updates wherever you are and enable alerts for warnings. (Here is the alert from Visit Orlando, for example). Be forewarned that hurricane season lasts through Nov. 30.
Certainly, it’s no fun when weather – just like illness or a pandemic – messes up your vacation, especially when it’s the first one you have had in a couple of years. But if you are somewhere safe and dry, it’s not the end of the world either. Think of it as a memorable adventure you are sharing with your family. When was the last time you let the kids order room service and binge-watch movies?
I was in Hawaii when nonstop rain prompted us to fly to another island with better weather (it’s always good to be able to pivot to a new plan when traveling). I’ve been stuck in more ski towns than I can remember by mega ski storms. There was even the time I was on vacation in North Carolina’s Outer Banks and was drafted to cover the hurricane.
Take a deep breath. As long as you are safe – and have travel insurance, as well as what you really need, there is no point getting upset. Remember, kids will pick up on your anxiety. You will want to reassure them that all will be well, likely in just a few days.
When traveling during hurricane season, it’s important to pack smart. Even if rain isn’t forecast, pack rain gear for everyone. Make sure you have back-up phone and laptop chargers, experts say. (Some Mophie and Anker devices can charge more than one device at a time quickly.)
Stash a small flashlight (in case your phone runs out of juice). And since you likely will be delayed, bring extra medications, baby formula and food, pet supplies (if you are traveling with a baby or pet), as well as extra clothes (you may find hotel and area laundromats are shut.)
This would also be the time to bring paper maps (when was the last time you used one?) in case there is no cell service.
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