Hurricane Helene: What to do if you have plans to visit the southeast

It has been per week since Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Class 4 storm Thursday, Sept. 26, and began her devastating path up by means of the southeastern U.S.

The storm deluged areas in western Florida’s Gulf Coast and Panhandle, jap Tennessee, western North Carolina, and areas of Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia with record-breaking rainfalls. The ensuing flooding decimated many components of the area. Right now, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia have all certified for “Main Catastrophe Declaration” standing, which gives federal catastrophe help, in accordance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

When you have journey plans to go to any of those areas, it is necessary to know that you just won’t be capable of go to not simply within the rapid future but in addition for an prolonged interval whereas restoration and cleanup proceed.

Here is a information on what to do when you’ve got a visit deliberate to the southeast U.S., together with Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, western North Carolina, southwest Virginia or jap Tennessee.

Is it secure to journey to the southeast US?

Western North Carolina

“Catastrophic” is the phrase getting used most frequently to explain the storm scenario in western North Carolina and the area encompassing Buncombe County, which incorporates town of Asheville in addition to giant sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway. In keeping with The Washington Post, the Swannanoa River, which traverses Asheville’s historic Biltmore Village, “reached a document excessive degree of 26 toes on Friday afternoon, surpassing the final main flooding occasion, in 2004, by greater than 6 toes.”

“We do not need you right here except you might be straight serving to with the response,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper informed the Asheville Citizen Times on Oct. 3. He was referring to any potential vacationers considering a go to to the area because it heads into what would have been its peak tourism season for fall foliage.

The area remains to be experiencing highway closures, energy and cellphone service outages, and shortages of water, meals and gasoline.

Go to North Carolina, the tourism arm of the North Carolina authorities, up to date its statement on its website Oct. 4. “Guests ought to name their journey supplier to substantiate different journey plans, together with reservations with lodging suppliers, and heed any steering from native officers. In the event you can not attain your journey supplier, you must take into account them to be unavailable and delay your journey till you may have affirmation they’re open and able to welcome guests,” the assertion reads.

Although vacationers ought to keep away from the mountains in western North Carolina, the tourism board did say that the a number of much less impacted areas are “prepared and welcoming guests, together with the counties of Cherokee (Murphy space), Clay (Hayesville space), Graham (Robbinsville space), Macon (Franklin and Highlands space) and Swain (Bryson Metropolis space).”

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Japanese Tennessee

Areas of jap Tennessee, together with Knoxville, have been affected by flooding. A portion of Interstate 40 close to the Tennessee-North Carolina border was washed away, as have been a variety of bridges within the space. As of Oct. 4, the Tennessee Division of Transportation has an urgent notice on its website that claims, “All roads in Higher East [Tennessee] needs to be thought-about probably hazardous, and motorists ought to keep away from touring in these areas.”

(Observe that whereas Nashville and Memphis each obtained record-setting rainfalls, each are accessible and open for tourism.)

A number of areas of Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park stay closed, together with Newfound Hole Highway/U.S. Route 441, Kuwohi Highway (previously referred to as Clingmans Dome Highway) and the Cataloochee Valley space.

The Nationwide Park Service continues to evaluate situations within the park following the storm. The NPS updated its website Sept. 30 to say: “Whereas components of the nationwide park are open, outside recreation is at present discouraged as a consequence of park staffing being stretched and customer security considerations. Nevertheless, Sevier County, which incorporates Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville, is totally open to those that can entry the county by means of secure routes. We’re working arduous to get all main park roads open to the general public as quickly as attainable.”

Florida

In keeping with the state’s official tourism web site, Visit Florida, “Hurricane Helene was a really giant storm, impacting an intensive swath of Florida.” As such, it has offered a listing of assets to verify with particular areas. The Tampa area in addition to Sarasota and its barrier islands have been particularly arduous hit.

The Sarasota authorities up to date its web site on Oct. 1 to say: “Lido Seaside is CLOSED. Beachgoers and ‘catastrophe vacationers’ are slowing down and impeding our storm restoration efforts. There aren’t any restrooms, concessions, lifeguards, or different facilities. There could also be seen and unseen hazards on the seaside. Please keep off the seaside and permit Metropolis workers to proceed with restoration efforts within the space.”

Whereas Tampa Bay Worldwide Airport (TPA), St. Pete-Clearwater Worldwide Airport (PIE) and Sarasota-Bradenton Worldwide Airport (SRQ) are all open, it is best to verify together with your resort straight earlier than going.

Georgia

As of Oct. 2, Gov. Brian Kemp declared a Major Disaster Declaration for 41 Georgia counties affected by Hurricane Helene, so residents can apply for help. Nevertheless, airports are open, and plenty of companies can be found. Town of Atlanta lifted its boil-water order on Oct. 1.

Because the state continues to wash up after the storm, the tourism board, Explore Georgia, recommends contacting your resort straight about current reservations.

South Carolina

Many components of western South Carolina, together with Greenville, have been with out energy after the storm. However Duke Vitality introduced in almost 2,000 extra staff and “has dedicated to having energy restored to all by Oct. 4,” according to the Greenville government’s website.

“Attributable to energy outages from Hurricane Helene, Welcome Facilities in Landrum and North Augusta are closed till additional discover. For impacted state parks, please go to SouthCarolinaParks.com to get the most recent details about park closures or if it is advisable to cancel/modify a campsite or cabin reservation,” the official tourism web site of the state, Discover South Carolina, advises vacationers.

Southwest Virginia

Cities in southwest Virginia alongside the Tennessee and North Carolina border, together with Damascus and Galax, skilled flooding and different storm-related injury.

“For guests planning to journey to or by means of the southwestern area of Virginia within the coming weeks, please remember there are some areas with out energy or cellphone service, and it’s possible you’ll encounter closed roads and storm particles alongside the best way,” the Virginia tourism board’s website said Oct. 4. “Anybody touring in these areas ought to affirm their journey plans to make sure their desired locations and sights are capable of welcome guests. Guests ought to plan driving routes upfront utilizing the 511 Virginia resource from the Virginia Division of Transportation.”

The total size of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed in each Virginia and North Carolina as a consequence of storm injury; Shenandoah National Park is open, although.

PowerOutage.us reviews that simply over 700,000 folks throughout the Southeast are at present with out energy as of Oct. 4 (down from almost 1.8 million folks on Monday).

As of Oct. 4, Alaska Airways is providing a flexible travel policy to and from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL) for tickets bought on or earlier than Sept. 23, for journey dates between Sept. 26 and Oct. 4.

Hawaiian Airways

Hawaiian Airways has no present journey advisories.

American Airways

As of Oct. 3, American Airways is waiving change fees for flights to, by means of or from Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) and Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) for tickets bought by Sept. 28 for journey between Sept. 29 and Oct. 31.

Southwest Airways

Southwest Airways has no current travel advisories, however at all times permits ticket adjustments with out penalty.

Delta Air Strains

Delta is providing rebooking options for numerous airports and locations within the southeast U.S., Mexico and Caribbean, together with all Atlanta flights. Nevertheless, adjustments have to be made by Oct. 4.

United Airways

United is permitting fee-free changes to flights to and from Asheville by means of the tip of October.

In the event you booked by means of a third-party on-line journey company or aggregator like Expedia or Travelocity, it is necessary to grasp the cancellation coverage. The OTA still owns your reservation prior to your travel, so contacting the resort straight will possible end in you being referred again to the OTA or journey portal for help.

“For impacted inns out there on Expedia and Motels.com, we’re waiving cancellation insurance policies and sharing steering with our vacationers who’ve affected journeys,” says the corporate. Vrbo, which is a part of the Expedia Group, activated its extenuating circumstances policy which “protects vacationers who cannot full their journeys as a consequence of large-scale journey disruptions, together with some pure disasters. When activated, Vrbo hosts should present full refunds for impacted reservations no matter their cancellation coverage.” Vrbo prolonged the coverage Oct. 2 to cowl bookings in Henderson County, North Carolina; Buncombe County, North Carolina; Transylvania County, North Carolina; and Greenville County, South Carolina between Oct. 3 and 9.

For these vacationers who booked lodging with Airbnb, the corporate has activated its major disruptive events policy for components of the southeast. Eligible friends with reservations will obtain a full refund, and each hosts and friends can cancel bookings penalty-free, the corporate stated. (Airbnb.org can also be providing free, temporary housing for individuals who have been displaced from their properties by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and Florida.)

What to do when you’ve got a cruise leaving from Florida

For cruise passengers, it is necessary to grasp the cancellation or rebooking coverage for the precise cruise line you’ll be touring on.

Presently, there aren’t any cruise port closures within the affected areas. Nevertheless, cruise lines might need to reroute to keep away from areas experiencing storms or their aftermath. As TPG’s cruise crew has reported, per the phrases of the cruise contract to which you consent earlier than crusing, cruise traces don’t owe you compensation in the event that they alter your itinerary. If the road makes adjustments, you’ll be refunded for any shore excursions you booked by means of the cruise line that have been to happen within the ports you are skipping. (Examine together with your tour supplier straight when you’ve booked a third-party tour.)

TPG’s information on what happens if a cruise gets canceled is the subsequent place to consult with for steering when you obtain discover that your cruise is canceled.

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

Will your bank card or journey insurance coverage cowl adjustments?

In the event you bought journey insurance coverage earlier than Helene grew to become a named storm, you must be capable of recoup most of your journey bills. Sadly, when you bought a coverage after the storm was named, it is too late to purchase journey insurance coverage.

“Insurance coverage covers the sudden,” Jenna Hummer, public relations director of Squaremouth (an organization that gives comparisons of journey insurance coverage from main U.S. suppliers), stated. “So as soon as one thing is taken into account ‘foreseen’ — on this case, when a tropical storm or hurricane has been named — you may now not get protection for that storm.”

“Journey cancellation and journey interruption will reimburse misplaced or unused pay as you go, nonrefundable bills as a consequence of a hurricane making it inconceivable to get to your vacation spot,” Stan Sandberg, cofounder of TravelInsurance.com, stated. “Many plans can even present protection if there’s a necessary evacuation on the vacation spot. A number of plans will even present protection within the occasion there’s a NOAA hurricane warning at your vacation spot throughout your journey dates.”

Journey delay protection will reimburse you for sudden journey prices akin to meals, transportation, web service and lodging when your flight is delayed for an prolonged time period.

Associated: Top travel mistakes to avoid during hurricane season

“Keep in mind that your bank card will not cowl something not bought on that card,” Hummer stated, concerning journey insurance coverage that is a part of a bank card’s advantages. “So, if you have not paid to your entire journey with that card or different folks in your group used one other fee methodology, you will not be totally lined.”

TPG has a comprehensive guide on bank cards that embody journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage, and what may be lined in a pure catastrophe.

Associated: 4 times your credit card’s travel insurance can help with travel woes, and 7 times it won’t