Travel Emergencies

Have you ever had a travel emergency? You know—been miles from home and the familiar only to experience a natural disaster or some unexpected natural event? While I have heard stories of friends and family who experienced hurricanes during their trips, that is something I consider a probable risk when booking a vacation in certain areas during hurricane season. A flash flood, snowstorm, or fire can come on without warning, catching even a somewhat experienced traveler off-guard.

During a recent trip hiking Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, my family and I were caught off-guard by a fast-spreading wildfire. While it made me realize you can’t plan for everything, you can be proactive and prepare for the unexpected. This trip taught me some things to do and other things not to do.

Prepared Traveler List

• Carry extra water, especially if you are in a desert climate where dehydration can happen quickly.
• Carry extra food or at least snacks or protein meal replacement bars.
• Listen to the local radio or tv stations to see what is happening in the area. Pay attention to more than just the weather report.
• If you are in an area with limited cell reception, it might be a good idea to get a printed road map, even if it seems old school or outdated. Let’s face it, technology is not 100% effective in every situation.
• Have a back-up phone charger in case you do not have access to electricity to recharge your device.
• Keep your ID, wallet, some cash, and medication packed in an easily accessible case or bag.

While this list is not comprehensive, it is a good place to start and will be helpful in most situations. My family has always been good about making sure there is plenty of water and food around. Our medication, wallets, cash, and ID are also always at arm’s length—which came in handy when we needed it. However, after this vacation, I am making it a priority to pay more attention to the local news and listen to local radio stations. Both are useful when you have no cell tower reception in remote areas. 

When we left Zion, we decided to take a detour to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Without knowing it, we were driving into what could have been a bad situation with an out-of-control brush fire. When we turned into the Moqui Cave tourist attraction to kill a little time before dinner, it quickly became apparent that something was wrong. A couple of emergency vehicles, including fire and water trucks, passed us as we pulled into the carpark. Even though it was early afternoon, they were closing the facility and turning people away at the door. The local electrical plant had just been shut down as a precaution due to an out-of-control brush fire. Local firefighters were working to divert the fire from the plant. While everyone seemed to think it was a temporary situation, power was not restored until that evening.

Thinking little about it, we headed back into town, where we discovered that the whole area was without power for miles. Since we had been up since 5 a.m., we were hoping to put our feet up and enjoy the air conditioning and a good meal. Yes, we were hangry and tired. Instead, we got back to a hot hotel, where we had to climb the stairs to our rooms and could not flush the toilet. Since we knew it was not anyone’s fault and the situation could be worse, we scrounged through our supplies and ate a non-traditional dinner, mostly of food we had in the cooler that we did not want to go to waste. We played cards downstairs in the lobby, where the temperature was more comfortable, while guests came in and out deciding if they wanted to stay or take their chances driving for miles to find something open. Observing everyone in the lobby, I picked up some tips about what not to do in an emergency situation.

Things not to do in a travel emergency

• First and foremost, don’t take things out on the hotel manager and staff. Like you, they have no control over the situation or circumstances. Be polite, even if they are telling you something you don’t want to hear—such as explaining a corporate policy not to give a refund for unforeseen circumstances. You wouldn’t want someone being an ass to you, so don’t be an ass to anyone else. I can tell you—after hearing the fifth person being a jerk to the manager, I wanted to lock the door for him and not let anybody into the hotel.
• Don’t waste your resources. We drove to find somewhere we could eat a better meal only to find that we were wasting gas, something that we might need later should the town have an emergency evacuation. The hotel, though not home, was safe, and the staff did their best to accommodate and update us as they found out details about the situation.
• Don’t panic. I know that this is redundant and you hear it all the time. But it is true. If you can’t think clearly, you won’t be able to make a quick decision if needed—a decision that could save your life and the lives of your loved ones.

We were lucky the power came back on at 8:00 p.m. In fact, we were very lucky. The brush fire was not too far from the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Without knowing it, we could have taken a detour right into the epicenter of the fire. The fire could have easily taken the electric company out, which would have had enormous repercussions for the town and its people. We also needed gas to travel to our next destination. If we had to evacuate, I am not sure we had enough gas to make it to the next town.

On the way out of town, we happened to drive by the area where the fire had been. It was the first time I or anyone in my family had been in an area after that much destruction. All of us were silent as we took in the scene. For miles, the earth was a charred, smoldering mess. Firefighters were out walking the fields just to make certain that the smoke did not contain any hidden flames. It could be years before the natural habitat or brush even grows back. It was haunting. You could just feel the sadness and loss creep over you. Yet at the same time, there were feelings of gratitude because we realized how fortunate we truly were.

We didn’t end up needing a Plan B, C, or D on our trip. Thankfully, because we had the habit of carrying extra food and water, we did not starve or get dehydrated. We had all our important valuables in the car and could have easily left without worrying about getting back to our hotel. Since all of us at one time or another, with the exception of my autistic nephew who is just naturally polite, worked in customer-related industries, we did not see the manager or hotel staff as responsible for something beyond their control. Like most people, we might have been mad about things, but we controlled ourselves. A conscious choice was made to be nice. Because of that, we got to hang out in the cool downstairs lobby instead of on the fourth floor, where there was only heat and windows that did not open. While we did drive to the next town to see if they had power, I am grateful for the locals’ advice to head back to the hotel in case we needed to leave the area in a hurry. The wildfire was still burning and could have easily swept through town. It is also nice to know that this situation has helped prepare me for any unexpected emergencies during future vacations.