5 Tips for Being Prepared in a Travel Emergency
- Josh
- Sep 1, 2023
- 5 min read
Whether tent camping at a local state park, soaking up some rays at the beach, or flying across the world to an exotic destination, travel emergencies can happen fast! We found this out the hard way when our family experienced an emergency weather situation during a stay at a campground in northeast Ohio.
Fast moving severe thunderstorms crossed Lake Erie and struck late one evening, just past midnight, with little warning. Fortunately our weather apps loudly blared their alarms and notified us of the Tornado warnings. We were directly in their path! While the lightning lit up the sky around us and thunder shook our rig like an earthquake, we quickly loaded the kids and pooch up in our truck and drove the short distance across the park to the bathhouses. For the next forty minutes, we huddled cold and soaking wet on a bathhouse shower bench while the storm passed.
Reflecting back on our experience, I think we did a few things right and fortunately we did not get hit by a tornado that night, but we could have done so much better. Tornados, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a common risk of the places we travel, so our family committed to being fully prepared for the next emergency.
5 Tips for Being Prepared in a Travel Emergency
By taking time in advance to prepare, you will help ensure the best possible outcome for you and your traveling companions.
Here are the five tips for being prepared in the event of a travel emergency:
Do your research. Before you even book your trip, take some time to research your destination and learn about the potential hazards that you may encounter. This includes natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, and floods. If you plan to be outdoors, research the types of animals you might encounter and how to react should you come across them. Understanding when disaster is most likely to strike will help you plan the best time for your trip. Its also worth looking up how far away the nearest hospital or urgent care is, should you need one.
Pack an emergency kit. Having an emergency kit packed and easily accessible can be the difference between life or death in an emergency. The size, type, and configuration of your emergency kit will depend on where you are traveling and the number of people in your party.
Stay informed. Once you're on your trip, it's important to stay informed about the latest news and weather conditions. You can do this by following local news websites and social media accounts, or by signing up for government alerts. Many weather apps will alert you to local weather warnings. Each state or local government has different rules about their weather sirens or public notifications, so familiarize yourself with how you would be notified for your particular area of travel.
Be aware of your surroundings. When you're traveling, it's important to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to stay safe. If you are hiking, follow blazes that mark trails so that you reduce your chances of getting lost. Be mindful of your intuition as well, if something in your subconscious telling you that you might be in an unsafe situation, pay attention!
Have a plan. In the event of an emergency, it's important to have a plan. This should include a list of emergency contacts, as well as a plan for how you will get in touch with them if you need to. You should also have a plan for how you will get to a safe place if necessary. Know how long it takes for you to get from your rig to the shower house or understand the necessary evacuation routes should flooding or a forest fire prompt you to leave in a hurry.
Safety Tip
If you are in an RV, ask the park where you should go in the event of bad weather or if there is a threat of tornadoes. Don’t assume that answer will be the bathhouse! We’ve had experiences where the park will lock the bath houses during storms.
What's in our emergency kit?
You should tailor your emergency kit to the specific needs of your trip. For example, if you are traveling to a remote area, you may want to include more food and water. If you are traveling to a place with a high risk of natural disasters, you may want to include a first-aid kit that is specifically designed for those types of disasters.
You will also want to ensure your kit is contained within a waterproof, weather resistant bag. The bag can also be used for capturing rain water or as a flotation device in an extreme situation.
Here are some of the items that you should include in your emergency kit for travel.
Emergency Kit Essentials
Food and water: Enough to last for at least 24 hours.
First-aid kit: This should include bandages, antibiotic ointment, pain relievers, and other basic first-aid supplies.
Flashlight: This is essential for finding your way around in the dark. If your flashlight takes batteries, pack extra.
Multi-tool: This can be used for a variety of tasks, such as cutting, sawing, and opening cans. I have personally carried a Leatherman for over 20 years and can attest to their usefulness and durability.
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio: This will allow you to stay informed about the latest news and weather conditions.
Whistle: This can be used to signal for help.
Emergency blanket: This can protect you from the elements as well as help prevent hypothermia. You can also use the emergency blanket to rain water.
Situation-based Items
Local maps: This will help you to find your way around if you get lost, these should be of good quality and waterproof if possible
Compass: Used in combination with a local map, it can help you navigate in the event you get lost.
Dust mask: This can help protect your lungs from dust and other airborne particles.
Sunscreen: This is essential for protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays.
Insect repellent: This will help to keep the bugs at bay.
Toiletries: This includes items such as soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper.
Prescription medications: If you take any prescription medications, be sure to pack enough to last for the duration of your trip.
Charging bank and cords: Our phones were almost dead the night of the tornado warning. It would be hard to keep an eye on the storm without access to our weather apps!
It is also important to regularly check your emergency kit and make sure that the items are still in good condition and that you have enough of everything. You should also replace any items that have expired or been used. Be sure to check devices that require batteries to ensure the batteries do not need replacing.
Preparedness Tip
Video document your possessions. This is especially important if you are an RV traveler. In the event your RV or coach is destroyed, having video documented evidence of your belongings will help the insurance adjuster in processing your claim and help get you back on the road faster.
By following these tips, you can help to ensure that you are prepared for any emergency that may occur while you are traveling. Do you have any other emergency preparedness tips that you would recommend for staying safe while traveling? Please feel free to share them in the comments below!
Here are some additional resources:
US Department of State Travel Advisories
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Health
World Health Organization Travel and Health
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