So you're ready for that trip-of-a-lifetime to your dream destination. Perhaps a few days before you depart, you hear a report of a threatening natural disaster. You picture yourself clinging to a guy in a hard hat, feet dangling in mid air while suspended from a helicopter as CNN camera crews capture your rescue for all to see! 

NOT the vacation of your dreams! Remember the volcanic ash from Iceland that covered Europe? People were stranded & travelers had to stay put or head to countries along the Mediterranean Sea to get flights. Remember when mudslides took out the train to Machu Picchu? Travelers were airlifted to safety, AFTER spending a few days in a town with limited infrastructure for normal tourism, let alone the burden of disaster relief. 

We will never forget the Indian Ocean earthquake & the brutal tsunami that followed. Or the earthquake in Japan, followed by a killer tsunami that damaged hotels as far away as the Galapagos Islands. And more recently, no one could have predicted the extent of the devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy on New York and New Jersey. Ask yourself.  What would you do if you had no power, no transportation, no communication tools & no rescuers? In a foreign country? (and no TV cameras)

Now that I have your attention, and after your heart rate becomes normal, let's consider advance preparations & review simple safety practices for your next trip. The first thing to be aware of is that it's rare for massive disasters to hit frequently. But it's worth it have a checklist of basic questions:

  • If separated from your travel companions, how would you contact or find each other without phones or email?
  • How would you get in touch with your family at home? What are the options? Do you know how to use the local phone service?
  • What's the first thing you should do following a natural disaster on your vacation?
  • What's the second thing?
  • Would you know if your travel companions needed to take prescription medications? And where do they keep those medications?
  • Would you know how to get in touch with your embassy?
  • If traveling with frail companions, would you know where the closest medical facility is?
  • Would you have local currency?
  • Do you know how to contact your local tour guides directly?

Buying travel insurance is just one step in preparing for your trip & may give you peace of mind. But travel insurance will not help you in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. These additional precautions are easy to implement and do not cost a thing. Tips for staying safe on your trips:

  • if you're staying in a hotel or resort, take notice of the emergency exit routes which should be posted in your room or in the hallway. If not posted, then come up with your own. Doesn't have to be elaborate, but every person in your group should know it. Find out where the stairs are in case the elevator is disabled.   Select a designated meeting spot. A parking lot would be better than a parking garage. Outside the front entrance would be better than the swimming pool.
  • if you separate from your travel companions during activities, make sure everyone knows where you're going & when you plan to return
  • if you take prescription medications, show your travel companions where it's stored.
  • pack the following items for every trip:  (5 star luxury hotels may have backup generators in case of electrical outage, but service may be interrupted or limited to hallways or common areas only) flashlight, water purification tablets or steri-pen/lifestraw, pre-packaged snacks, pocket knife, duct tape, first aid supplies, copies of your travel documents & decoder ring (just kidding on that last one!)
  • local currency (might be the only option to buy water or food)
  • memorize your login names and passwords for online email accounts.  If you lose all your belongings, you may be able to reach your family by sending an email from another computer or device.
  • give someone at home a copy of your itinerary with contact info for local hotels, tour guides, medical facilities & the nearest embassy of your home country.
  • US citizens can enroll in SMART TRAVELER, free program to register their trip abroad & receive travel/weather alerts or assistance in an emergency
  • Subscribe for the SOLO Wilderness Medicine & Urban Disasters free newsletter to stay up to date on the latest treatments & first aid practices. Host a course or take a course in your area.

What's the absolute first thing you should do after a disaster? In our opinion, you should gather your travel companions & assess the safety of the location you're in.  Can you continue to stay there? Or should you leave? The best thing would be to stay because that is where people who have your itinerary will look for you. If you have to evacuate, leave a message indicating:  the date you are departing, at least the first name of each person in your group, the status of your health & your intended destination. If you have a smart phone, take it with you even if you don't have service. It's possible that service could be restored. Don't forget the charger! 

No one can eliminate all risks from living and traveling, but being aware of basic safety protocols and remembering to memorize essential information can take some of the worry out of your preparations.