Hurricane Milton: What to know if you travel to Florida

Hurricane Milton is heading toward Florida, heading west to east from the Gulf of Mexico like an ice cream cone trying to carry the Gulf State up the east coast through Orlando. Currently, Milton is a Category 5 hurricane (the highest hurricane level) and is expected to pass directly over the Tampa Bay area early Wednesday morning.

As of Monday morning, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 51 counties. Officials across the state worked to clear debris left behind by Hurricane Helene last week so the pieces wouldn’t turn into projectiles in Milton’s winds, while forecasters predicted a storm surge of 8 to 12 feet amid 5 to 10 inches of rain in some areas. . Parts of Florida were under mandatory evacuation orders.

If you have an upcoming trip planned to Florida, you’ll want to stay up to date on developments in your specific destination, as the impact of damage from Hurricane Milton will largely depend on where you plan to visit. However, if you’re heading to the state’s west coast this week, it might be best to rearrange your trip.

Here’s what you need to know about traveling to Florida right now.

Is it safe to travel to Florida?

You should exercise extreme caution if you plan to travel to the west coast of Florida this week and consider changing your travel plans.

Florida’s west coast areas of Tampa and Sarasota and surrounding areas are still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall just two weeks ago. These cities are already asking visitors to stay away. The Sarasota government updated its website on October 1 to say: “Lido Beach is CLOSED. Beachgoers and “disaster tourists” are slowing and hindering our storm recovery efforts. There are no restrooms, concessions, lifeguards or other amenities. be visible and invisible on the beach. Please stay away from the beach and allow city staff to continue recovery efforts in the area.

And now, according to the state’s official tourism site, Visit Florida, “there is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surges and damaging winds across portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning Tuesday evening or early Wednesday. Storm Surge and Hurricane Watches are now in effect on parts of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula and residents in this area should follow the advice given by local authorities and evacuate if asked to do so. »

The state’s website also notes that “areas of heavy precipitation will affect parts of Florida today (Monday) well ahead of Milton, with heavy precipitation more directly linked to the system expected later Tuesday night in Wednesday. flash, urban and regional flooding, as well as the potential for moderate to major riverine flooding.

Theme Park Updates

Milton is expected to travel across a wide swath of the state, including Tampa and Orlando, home to Florida’s most popular theme parks. Currently, Walt Disney World’s website has a statement stating that “the resort is currently operating under normal conditions.” We are closely monitoring the path of the projected storm while continuing to prioritize the safety of our guests and cast members. Universal Orlando has a similar policy. statement that reads: “At this time, our park operations and schedules are continuing as normal. We are monitoring the weather closely. Please check back for updates.”

Legoland Florida announced that it will be closed on Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday. Oct. 10, with one hotel operating at limited capacity. Busch Gardens Tampa will be closed October 8, 9 and 10. And as of press time, SeaWorld Orlando plans to remain open.

Related: Here’s What Happens When Disney World Gets Hit by a Hurricane

Florida Airlines and Airports

Tampa International Airport (TPA) has already announced its closure at 9 a.m. Tuesday. It is unclear when the airport will reopen; TPA officials said it depends on how much damage, if any, the airport suffered and how long it will take to repair it.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) – where Allegiant Air operates commercial flights – will close Tuesday afternoon after the last flight departs, the airport said. Allegiant has canceled all flights to PIE for Wednesday and Thursday.

Both airports are in mandatory evacuation zones.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) will cease commercial and private flights Wednesday morning, officials announced, while leaving the airport open for emergency relief flights. Officials said the airport would reopen once the storm passes and the damage is assessed.

Airlines have slowly started canceling flights, although this is expected to accelerate in the coming days.

Airlines serving Florida are offering various travel waivers ahead of the storm. The details of each waiver vary, but they generally apply to flights to, from, or through various Florida airports between October 8 and 10. Thanks to the waivers, travelers can change their flights without having to pay a difference in fares. Generally, the new travel date must be before October 17.

Check with your airline for details if you have an upcoming trip this week.

What to do if you have booked a hotel or Airbnb in Florida

Now is the time to proactively change your reservation. If you booked directly with a hotel, check their website first and see if they have posted any updates. You can also call the hotel directly or the main reservation number. Keep in mind that many properties are likely to handle the crisis, so calling the property directly should be a last option.

If you booked through a third-party travel agency or online travel aggregator like Expedia or Travelocity, it’s important to understand the cancellation policy. The OTA still owns your reservation before your trip, so contacting the hotel directly will likely refer you to the OTA or travel portal for assistance.

Following Hurricane Helene, Expedia and Hotels.com waived their cancellation policies, and Vrbo, part of the Expedia group, activated its extenuating circumstances policy. It is likely that the same policies will be implemented as Milton comes ashore.

After Helen, Airbnb activated its Major Disruption Events policy for parts of the Southeast, but has yet to make an announcement regarding Milton.

What to do if you have a cruise from Florida

For cruise lines, it’s important to understand the cancellation or rebooking policy of the specific cruise line you’ve booked, so check with your individual line for details. However, be prepared for possible cancellations, itinerary changes and delayed departures if you need to depart from Florida this week, both to Port Canaveral on the east coast and to Port Tampa Bay on the west coast, due to both from the storm and the consequences of the tide.

Port Tampa Bay, where Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises and Margaritaville at Sea depart, issued the following statement: “As of 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a port condition X-RAY, which means the possibility of strong winds could impact our maritime operations within 48 hours,” it posted on its website. “Maritime traffic entering and exiting to our port remains open and ground operations will continue for as long as safely possible.”

As TPG’s cruise team reported, under the terms of the cruise contract you agree to before you sail, cruise lines don’t owe you any compensation if they change your itinerary. If the line makes changes, you will be refunded for any shore excursions you booked with the cruise line that were scheduled to take place in the ports you are avoiding. (Check directly with your tour operator if you have booked a third-party excursion.)

TPG’s guide to what happens if a cruise is canceled is the next place to turn for advice if you receive notice that your cruise is canceled.

Related: What happens if my cruise line changes my itinerary or ship?

Will your credit card or travel insurance cover the changes?

If you purchased travel insurance before Milton became a named storm, you should be able to recoup most of your travel costs. Unfortunately, if you purchased an insurance policy after the storm, this won’t help you.

“Insurance covers the unexpected,” said Jenna Hummer, public relations director for Squaremouth (a company that offers travel insurance comparisons from major U.S. providers). “So once something is considered ‘forecast’ – in this case, when a tropical storm or hurricane has been named – you can no longer get coverage for that storm.”

“Trip Cancellation and Interruption will reimburse prepaid, non-refundable expenses lost or unused due to a hurricane making it impossible to arrive at your destination,” said Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com. “Many plans will also offer coverage in the event of a mandatory evacuation at your destination. A few plans will even offer coverage in the event of a NOAA hurricane warning at your destination during your travel dates.”

Trip delay coverage will reimburse you for unexpected travel expenses such as food, transportation, internet service and lodging when your flight is delayed for an extended period of time.

Related: Top Travel Mistakes to Avoid During Hurricane Season

“Remember, your credit card will not cover anything that is not purchased with that card,” Hummer said of the travel insurance that is part of the perks of a credit card. “So if you didn’t pay for your entire trip with this card or if others in your party used another payment method, you won’t be fully covered.”

TPG offers a comprehensive guide to credit cards that include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and what might be covered in the event of a natural disaster.

Related: 4 Times Your Credit Card’s Travel Insurance Can Help With Travel Problems, and 7 Times It Can’t

Conclusion

Hurricane Milton is currently heading toward the west coast of Florida and could make landfall as an incredibly powerful Category 5 storm. It comes just two weeks after Hurricane Helene, which brought unprecedented rain to the Tampa and Sarasota areas, which are once again in the direct path of the storm.

If you are planning to travel to the area, it may be prudent to delay or cancel your plans until a later date.

For more helpful tips on sailing during hurricane season, read: