Information for All Customers in Florida
What to Do in a Hurricane Warning
Clients must pay attention to the weather and news updates on local TV & radio stations. As such, it is useful to know which county they are staying in, and if you are unsure, you can find out using this helpful county locator map.
What to Expect
There may be a curfew, or evacuations planned during the hurricane, and it is crucial for your client's protection that they adhere to these rules. Details around curfews or evacuations will be announced on all local TV & radio stations, and we shall also be in touch to confirm what we know.
There may be power outages during and after the hurricane, which could disrupt the electricity supplied to your client's home. Rest assured this issue is usually temporary, and utility companies will fix the supply as soon as it is safe to do so.
Preparing for a Hurricane Checklist
· Make sure that all travel documents and valuables are in a safe place so that they can be accessed quickly if necessary
· Pack a small bag with essential personal items, such as medication, toiletries, and a change of clothing
· Make sure cash is available – should the power go down cash machines may not work
· Make sure there is gasoline in the car as it may not be possible to refuel during or soon after the hurricane
· Identify a safe place at home – ideally an area with no windows and away from outside walls
· If safe to do so, place all exterior movable objects into the garage (i.e., trash bins and BBQs)
· Place all outdoor furniture into the pool – this will prevent them from being blown around and causing damage
· Purchase water: we recommend 1 gallon/3 litres of water per person – if clients cannot buy bottled water, they should use zip-lock bags, fill these with water and place them in the freezer. Alternatively, we do have emergency supplies at our Orlando office should they need them, however, these are limited to 1 gallon per family
· Purchase food: ready-to-eat items, ideally non-perishable, packed, or canned food items. Please consider that clients may lose power during and immediately after a hurricane
· Make sure that a torch/flashlight is on hand
· If clients are travelling with small children, they should make sure they have enough wipes,
nappies/diapers and baby food
· Consider books and games to keep everyone amused
· Consider having a battery-operated radio
During a Hurricane Checklist
· Stay inside. It is critical that clients do not go outside of their home during the hurricane, not even for a short time
· Whilst the power is on, clients should remember to keep up to date via local TV & radio stations
· When the eye of the storm passes over, there is often complete calm, which is often mistaken for the end of the hurricane. The calm can last some time, but the wind will return suddenly and often with greater force. Clients should not go outside until advised to do so by local authorities
· Follow all instructions provided by local authorities
· Stay as calm as possible
Contacting Us During Hurricanes
Please note that our Orlando telephone lines may not be working, and our Orlando-based staff may not be able to get into the office, including adherence to any curfew that has been issued.
Our contact details are as follows for clients: phone +1 407 390 6422 and dial option 1 for customer service.
In addition, we do have an emergency after-hours line available for clients to contact us on when we are not in the office, this number is +1 407 421 1584.
Alternatively, if clients are unable to reach any of our staff based in Orlando, we recommend that they contact their booking agent directly for assistance.
If Clients are Currently Staying in Gulf Coast Villas
Please note that our villas are hurricane-proofed; therefore, it is unlikely that clients will need to be evacuated to local shelters. Instead, they will only need to evacuate if advised to do so by the police or government, and it is vital that they follow any instructions issued by local authorities.
If clients need to extend their stay at a property, due to a missed flight or an accommodation transfer, we are happy to arrange this extension. If clients are required to pay any fees for extending their stay, please ensure they keep a receipt of the payment so that they may seek to claim the expenses back via their travel insurance.
If Clients Are Currently Staying in Gulf Coast Hotels
Clients can expect hotel management to be in regular contact with them regarding their hurricane safety procedures. If they need to extend their stay, the hotel should be able to accommodate them given the extenuating circumstances. If they are required to pay any fees for extending their stay, they will need to keep a receipt of the payment so that they may seek to claim the expenses back via their travel insurance. If their travel insurance does not cover natural disasters, they should contact us or their booking agent regarding any additional accommodation costs.
If clients find themselves without accommodation, we are available to contact on +1 407 421 1584.
If Clients Are Due to Travel During the Hurricane
We expect that flights leaving Florida will be subject to delays and cancellations. The major airports in the forecast trajectory of Hurricane Milton, Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Tampa International Airport (TPA) are currently monitoring the situation, and we shall endeavour to keep you updated as more information becomes available.
If an airline closes, you can expect them to rearrange your client's flight free of charge on the earliest available date. However, if a client voluntarily cancels their flight, perhaps due to concerns about the final trajectory of the hurricane, they may be expected to cover the additional cost.
To make sure clients are aware of the status of their flight we recommend they do the following:
· Regularly check the website of their airline for updates
· Ensure their airline has their contact information so they can contact them directly
· Regularly check their email for any updates from their airline
Please ensure clients do not travel to the airport until they have checked the latest airline information, and here is where they can confirm the status of their flight:
Virgin Atlantic
- Website: https://www.virginatlantic.com/flight-status/search
- Telephone number: 03448 747 747
British Airways
- Website: http://www.britishairways.com/rtad/travel/public/en_gb
- Telephone number: 0344 493 0787
United Airlines
9th Floor North House St. Edwards Way Romford Essex, RM1 3AE
- Website: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/travel/flightstatus/default.aspx - Telephone number: 800 864 8331
American Airlines
- Website: https://www.aa.com/travelInformation/flights/status - Telephone number: 800 433 7300
TUI
- Website: https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/travel-information - Telephone number: 033 33 365 147
Once it is deemed safe to travel, clients should contact their airline or their booking agent to arrange an alternative flight.