Photo by GlynLowe.com courtesy of Flickr
The stark images of hurricane Super Storm Sandy‘s impact show one devastating scene after another. Loss of lives, uprooted trees, fallen power lines, facades sheared off buildings . . . A friend from New Jersey writes: “The winds are terrifying. The Jersey Shore is obliterated.”
No one likes to imagine the dangers that can happen while traveling. But keeping fingers crossed while hoping for the best are not success strategies for coping with the unexpected while on the road.
Whether you’re a stranded traveler for a few hours or a few days, heed these top 5 tips for coping with unexpected disasters away from home:
Photo by NASA, courtesy of Flickr
1) Be prepared.
- Expectations are everything. When you have an idea of what you’re in for, you can plan accordingly. Do your homework. Check weather and travel advisories before you leave for your trip.
- Carry personal identification and your health insurance card in case you need medical assistance.
- Make two extra copies of your travel documents, including your passport. Keep one with a contact person at home and another in a separate travel bag.
- Be aware of your own medical and auto insurance coverage before investigating travel insurance options. Only then, depending on the coverage you already have, consider purchasing travel insurance, one that provides a refund for flight delays or cancellations, for instance, to give you peace of mind.
- Diversify your money options. Carry a limited amount of cash. Memorize your pin number so you can access your checking and savings accounts from an ATM machine. Bring Traveler’s Checks as a back up.
2) Stay informed.
- Before traveling abroad, consider signing up for the U.S. State Department’s free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive up-to-date travel information, alerts and advisories about your destination.
- Sign up for text and Twitter updates from your airline. Check your airline’s website and Facebook page for the latest flight information.
- If possible, stay tuned to the local news forecasts for information relevant to your travel site.
- Check with the front desk or concierge at your hotel for local information.
Photo by Sean MacEntee, courtesy of Flickr
3) Stay connected.
- Leave a copy of your travel itinerary and local contact information with a friend at home.
- Update your travel information on your social media sites like Facebook.
- Program important telephone numbers in your smart phone, including the name of your hotel, local hospitals, physicians who speak English, embassies and consulates.
- If traveling with family or friends, keep a color photo of each person in your group on your smart phone.
- When local connections are lost, contact family or friends outside your travel area who often can give you a better idea of what’s happening in your area.
Photo by cuttlefish, courtesy of Flickr
4) Get your bearings.
- Be able to identify your location on a map as well as the closest hospitals, subway stations, tsunami evacuation routes, embassies and fire departments.
- Learn a few emergency phrases in the local language so that you can communicate in a crisis situation.
5) Stay smart.
- Don’t tempt Mother Nature when it comes to hurricane warnings, tsunami alerts and tornado sightings. Stay out of harm’s way.
- Avoid local demonstrations and other signs of civil unrest.
- Read the safety information provided to you on airplanes and in your hotel room.
- Pay attention to your surroundings. Stay on alert and listen to your intuition.
- Follow the safety precaution, transportation guidelines and advisories issued by local officials.
For more information on travel health and safety, be sure and check out these two posts, Top 5 Travel Safety Tips and Top 5 Tips for Healthy Travels.
For information on how you can help the victims of Hurricane Sandy, contact your local American Red Cross.
What tips do you have for surviving travel emergencies, Wanderboomers?
2) Termas Papallacta – I’ve written several 
3) MV Evolution – My home away from home for my cruise of the Galapagos Islands was aboard a classic 32-passenger yacht “floating hotel.” Billed as a throwback to memories of exotic travel in the 1920’s, this small-ship was a beauty. With an all-Ecuadorian crew of 18 that included a doctor, cruise director and two naturalist guides, the level of personal service our hosts provided was exceptional. As you might imagine, the sky lounge on the upper deck became a very popular watering hole at the end of our days spent hiking, kayaking and snorkeling.
4) Hotel Casablanca in New York City – What a perfect little retreat from the over-the-top bright lights and cacophony of Times Square! Truly a boutique hotel, with its tiny elevator and narrow hallways, the hotel is a lovely little gem with a Moroccan motif in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The staff was warm and welcoming, and despite a few problems with the free Wi-Fi service during my stay, the level of service was outstanding. I especially enjoyed Rick’s Café, the intimate lounge where a delicious continental breakfast was provided each morning and a wine and cheese reception every afternoon. So civilized . . .
11) I never tire of taking the Staten Island Ferry to see The Statue of Liberty, even if it’s only to offer a passing salute. One thing that has changed since my last trip to NYC is having the steady presence of the U.S. Coast Guard cruising alongside our vessel for the short round trip between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island. I have yet to get off the ferry to explore the island, but one of these days . . .
13) Explore High Line Park, which was built on the historic elevated freight train line on Manhattan’s West Side. This was, well, high on my list for this trip since it only first opened in 2009. Once scheduled for demolition, community residents fought to preserve the original structure. What an achievement! The area has been transformed into a beautiful landscaped public space covering the area from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.
View of the New York City Skyline
6) Snack on a super-size soft pretzel and roasted chestnuts while wandering around Midtown. All that window shopping takes its toll! Thankfully, corner street vendors abound here so you’ll have plenty of food choices to whet your appetite. If pretzels and chestnuts don’t do it for you, how about a hot dog? Or Falafal? A chicken kebab or Italian sausage perhaps?
Better luck next time, Mom!
8) Take a break from urban mania with a walk in Central Park. Even a short respite will help restore your sanity and show you a portion of the lovely 843-acre landscape designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1858. I still haven’t made it to Strawberry Fields, the meditative garden created by Yoko Ono in memory of her husband, John Lennon. But I know it ranks high on the list of NYC residents and tourists alike so I’m adding it to my list.