Travel can be unpredictable, and natural disasters, like hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and floods, can disrupt even the best-laid plans. Having travel insurance that includes coverage for natural disasters is essential, especially if you’re traveling to locations that are prone to extreme weather events.
This article will explore this type of coverage and how to make a travel-insurance claim if natural disaster strikes.
Why You Might Need Travel Insurance with Natural Disaster Coverage
Natural Disasters Covered by Travel Insurance
Natural Disasters Not Covered by Insurance
Benefits Included in Travel Insurance for Natural Disasters
Destinations Most Prone to Natural Disasters
Finding Help in a Natural Disaster
FAQs
Redpoint Travel Protection Has You Covered
Why You Might Need Travel Insurance with Natural Disaster Coverage
Natural disasters can cause major disruptions to travel plans, resulting in unexpected expenses, cancellations, and even health risks. Even if you think you’re traveling to a low-risk location, such as a beach resort, unforeseen events like hurricanes can arise quickly and without much prior warning.
Travel insurance with natural-disaster coverage protects you from the financial losses associated with trip delays, cancellations, evacuations, and medical emergencies. It ensures that you don’t have to cover the cost of disrupted plans or emergency situations out of pocket if a natural disaster occurs, so it’s a good idea, no matter where you’re traveling to.
Natural Disasters Covered by Travel Insurance
Most travel insurance coverage will include a wide range of natural disasters and severe weather events, including those listed below. Generally, a travel insurance policy defines severe weather as any event which disrupts travel, damages accommodation, or makes a given destination uninhabitable.
- Hurricanes and tropical storms
- Earthquakes
- Wildfires
- Tornadoes
- Floods
- Volcanic eruptions
- Avalanches
- Blizzards
- Heavy storms
Ripcord Comprehensive Travel Protection includes coverage for a wide range of natural disasters and inclement weather, which are defined as follows:
- Inclement Weather: any severe weather condition that delays the scheduled arrival or departure of a typical commercial carrier or causes authorities to close public roadways, preventing you from arriving at or returning from your scheduled destination.
- Natural Disaster: a flood, tsunami, cyclone, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, mudslide, avalanche, landslide, volcanic eruption, sandstorm, sinkhole, named winter storm, or severe hailstorm, fire, wildfire, or blizzard; all of which are due to natural causes.
Natural Disasters Not Covered by Insurance
Some natural disasters may be excluded from coverage under certain policies. This usually happens if such events are considered predictable, or were already forecasted when you purchased your policy. These might include travel to an area where a natural disaster is imminent or has already started. Insurers may also exclude coverage for “gradual” disasters, like droughts, or slow-moving environmental changes, like coastal erosion.
Additionally, if the natural disaster does not directly impact your trip — such as causing damage to your accommodation or making travel to your destination impossible — some claims may be denied. Unfortunately, rainy days on a beach vacation when you were expecting cloudless skies won’t be covered.
Benefits Included in Travel Insurance for Natural Disasters
Travel insurance for natural disasters, such as our top-of-the-line Ripcord policy, typically includes coverage for trip delays, cancellations, interruptions, emergency medical care, and evacuation services. Here’s a closer look at what those coverages mean.
Travel Delays
If a natural disaster causes travel delays, such as canceled flights or closed roads, travel insurance may cover costs like hotel stays, meals, and alternative transportation. Coverage typically kicks in after a delay of six to 12 hours, depending on your policy.
Trip Interruption
Trip-interruption coverage compensates you if you have to cut your trip short due to a natural disaster. If you’re forced to leave your destination because of an earthquake or flood, for example, this coverage can reimburse you for the unused portion of your trip, as well as the costs of getting home early.
Trip Cancellation
If a natural disaster is in the forecast or has already struck your destination before your departure, trip-cancellation benefits can reimburse you for non-refundable expenses, such as flights, hotels, and tours. To qualify for trip-cancellation coverage, the disaster must significantly affect your destination, such as making it uninhabitable or causing travel bans.
Emergency Medical Coverage
Natural disasters can cause injuries or illnesses, and if you’re caught in an event like a hurricane or wildfire, emergency medical coverage can cover the cost of medical treatment, hospital stays, and even emergency evacuation to a safer location or back home.
When you’re looking for emergency medical coverage, it’s critical to understand your destination, the triggers for medical evacuation, and where your evacuation would start (i.e., a remote location versus an airport).
Ripcord is fairly unique in that it includes security and natural disaster evacuation, which kicks in when you’re trapped and not in immediate need of medical treatment, but likely will need medical attention if not evacuated. Other policies do include natural disaster or security evacuation, but in most cases it’s a financial reimbursement, which isn’t very helpful if you’re stuck — and that’s the whole point of evacuation coverage.
Destinations Most Prone to Natural Disasters
No destination is 100% safe, but it’s a fact that some areas of the world are more prone to natural disasters than others.
Coastal regions, like the Caribbean and Southeast Asia, are vulnerable to hurricanes and typhoons, while countries along the Pacific Ring of Fire, such as Japan and Chile, are at higher risk for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Similarly, mountainous areas in North America and Europe may experience avalanches, while wildfire-prone areas, like California and Australia, face seasonal fire risks.
It’s still safe to travel to disaster-prone regions — you’ll just need to be more aware of the potential risks involved. Avoid booking trips during peak hurricane season, for example, and if you’re traveling at the height of winter or summer, when temperatures are most extreme, pay special attention to advisories and warnings from authorities.
Finding Help in a Natural Disaster
If you’re being evacuated or find yourself stranded during a natural disaster, there are several places to turn for help.
In the U.S., disasterassistance.gov can help you apply for FEMA disaster relief and point you toward additional resources, while the American Red Cross can provide aid through its local chapters or connect you with a shelter. Overseas, you’ll want to reach out to your country’s embassy or consulate for assistance, and be sure to follow the guidance they suggest.
You should also contact your travel insurance provider’s emergency assistance hotline for help with transportation, accommodation, and medical needs. Your policy will likely cover the cost of emergency evacuation, including transportation to a safe location and possibly alternative transportation home. In an emergency, it’s important to keep your policy details, emergency assistance telephone number, and emergency contact information with you and easy to find.
The following story of the Nepal Earthquake in 2015 offers a compelling example of why Ripcord’s travel insurance with robust evacuation coverage is critical—not just for peace of mind, but for ensuring that you and your loved ones can receive timely assistance when it matters most. Read it here.
If you decide to go with Redpoint, we offer 24/7 travel assistance for your convenience. Our Ripcord program evacuates travelers stuck in disaster areas, and our track record for rescue operations is second to none. Case in point: Not only did we extricate dozens of travelers and deliver them safely home after a 2015 earthquake caused a deadly avalanche in Nepal, we also distributed aid to the Himalayan villages impacted by the tragedy.
FAQs
What Are My Options If a Natural Disaster Makes My Accommodation Uninhabitable?
If your accommodation is made uninhabitable by a natural disaster, trip-interruption or -cancellation coverage can reimburse you for the cost of alternate lodging or trip cancellation.
Can I File a Claim on My Travel Insurance If Bad Weather at Home Disrupts My Travel Plans?
Yes, if severe weather at home prevents you from departing, your policy may cover trip delays or cancellations, as long as you meet certain conditions.
What Happens If My Travel Dates Are Rearranged Because of Weather or Disaster-Related Flight Cancellations?
If your travel is rearranged due to flight cancellations, travel-delay coverage can reimburse you for costs associated with rebooking flights, meals, and accommodations.
Is There a Waiting Period for Natural Disaster Coverage?
Your travel insurance provider may have a waiting period after you purchase your policy, during which natural disaster coverage doesn’t apply, so it’s best to buy insurance early.
Does My Travel Insurance Cover the Duration of a Natural Disaster, or Are There Time Limits?
Coverage typically lasts for the duration of the disaster or until you can safely return home, but check your policy for specific time limits.
Can I Change my Travel Insurance to Cover Natural Disasters After my Trip Has Started?
Most insurers do not allow you to add coverage for natural disasters once your trip has begun. It’s important to purchase adequate coverage before departure.
If you choose Ripcord, there’s no need to worry about the add-on — natural disaster coverage is already included.
Redpoint Travel Protection Has You Covered
If you’re looking for comprehensive travel insurance that will give you total peace of mind, Redpoint Travel Protection has what you’re looking for. Contact us for a quote today.
