Pack A Flare or Two: Tips to Navigate Through Major Travel Disasters

As we’ve seen from countless storms and hurricanes and the recent partial sinking of the Costa Concordia, an Italian cruise liner, disaster doesn’t take a vacation when you do.

Most people come back from vacations with stories of true getaway success. Although problems like a missed flights, lost luggage or minor illness can put a roadblock in your plans, they won’t necessarily destroy them. Some, rare experiences can endanger the life of travelers. Stories of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, political  unrest, illness and injury can bring travelers home with experiences that sound like encounters dreamed in a nightmare.

You can’t always control your surroundings, but you can control the way you react to a situation, BootsNAll travel blog offers several ways to navigate through major travel disasters.

Remain Calm and Carry On

Events like tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and tsunamis can appear out of nowhere. Remain calm and try out these suggestions:

• Research your destination and see if it is prone to natural disasters. Avoid travel during that season.
• Purchase travel insurance to cover any potential financial losses. 
• If you go abroad, register with the State Department and let them know when and where you plan to travel. 

If a natural disaster happens, this is what you should do:

• Be patient. Impulsive, emotional behavior will only make the situation worse.
• Contact friends and family as soon as you can.
• Use caution when searching for safety.

Political Uprise

If you plan to visit an area that has an unstable political system, like Afghanistan, South America or Africa, travel smart and with caution.

• Read the countries’ foreign embassy website for warnings.
• Use travel sites and social media to see what people are saying who live there, for the natives’ perspective.
• Find out if your insurance covers circumstances that are caused by government upheaval.

If political unrest happens:

• Stay out of it.
• Have the contact information for the local American embassy with you at all times. Call and find out what they are doing to remove American citizens. If the danger is severe, consider going straight there.
• Contact your airline and find out their policy on a change of date, for your flight home. 

Sickness or Injury

Motion sickness, food poisoning, cuts, and sunburns. . .oh my! Unfortunately, illness and injury are common on vacations. But they can be avoided, if you take proper precautions and practice good decision making.

• Before you fly, build your immune system with immune boosting vitamins and minerals. Dr. Ronald Hoffman, a leader in the field of complementary medicine, suggests on his blog that travelers pack extra B6, B12, C, A, D and Zinc, to ward off airborne viruses.
• Make sure your travel insurance covers all potential injuries from activities and excursions you have planned.
• Be cautious of street food. Read reviews before you go.
• Ask your doctor for an Azithromycin like Z-Pack or an antibiotic like Cipro before you leave. These fight common viruses and bacteria infections.
• Pack bottled water.
• Avoid physical contact with wildlife.
• Bring a basic first-aid kit, for minor injuries.
• Be aware that countries with socialized healthcare, like New Zealand and Australia, will not charge you for trips to the ER and ambulance rides–so get medical attention, if it’s necessary.

Although natural disasters, political uprise, sickness and injury are negative experiences, caution, preparation and a positive attitude will bring you back from your vacation with a tremendous gain in life experience.