By AAA of Western and Central New York
Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday morning in North Carolina with gusts of 90 mph. Forecasters warn this is a powerful, large hurricane with life-threatening storm surge and rainfall expected.
AAA continues to closely monitor Hurricane Florence and is working with travel partners to receive the latest updates. In such situations, when a storm will impact travelers, AAA Travel pulls a list of all members who have trips booked to affected areas. Travel consultants are reaching out to members to see if they have any questions or need any guidance.
Safety First
AAA urges travelers to check with their travel agent and travel providers for cancelation policies and itinerary changes. Travelers should heed all official evacuation advisories and orders.
If traveling, it is important to monitor weather conditions regularly, both at your departure city and destination. If you have hotel reservations, check with your hotel for local updates on the storm's impact.
Many airlines are waiving change fees and issuing changes to rebooking policies as a result of the storm.
Several cruise lines have altered itineraries in advance of the storm. Travelers should check with their cruise line or travel agent for updates.
Sandals is offering waivers to travelers in affected areas.
Travel insurance is designed to offer protection against sudden and unforeseen situations and events. Members insured through Allianz Global Assistance must have purchased coverage prior to an incident to receive benefits.
Gas Prices
Hurricane Florence has already begun to impact gas stations' fuel availability, but has had minimal impact on gas prices. Since Sunday, coastal metropolitan areas have seen gas prices jump, on average, 2 cents. Local prices have not been impacted at this time.
Once the storm passes and damage is assessed, we will be able to determine how quickly fuel supplies can be replenished in the hurricane-impacted areas.
As upstate New York's largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 870,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.
