The federal government issued an updated travel advisory for the Bahamas and coastal regions of Florida Monday, urging Canadians to avoid all travel as Hurricane Dorian wages on.
The hurricane -- rated as a dangerous Category 5 storm when the advisory was updated -- has already caused "catastrophic" damage to the Caribbean island, with severe flooding and sustained wind speeds of up to 297 km/h.
Dorian is expected to move "dangerously close" to Florida through Wednesday evening, prompting officials to increase the travel advisory from "avoid all non-essential travel" to "avoid all travel."
With thousands of flight cancellations and several international airports in Florida announcing plans to cease operations Monday, the storm serves as a cautionary tale to Canadian travellers, one that may call for a closer look at your travel insurance policy.
If an "avoid all travel" advisory is issued for your destination -- after you've paid for your travel arrangements and insurance, but before you depart -- you may be covered under your trip cancellation policy should you have to stay home.
Similarly, if the government were to upgrade the travel advisory to the region you had travelled to, or regions that were on your itinerary, you may be able to claim a portion of your expenses should you chose to return home.
In some cases, you can claim non-refundable, unused trip arrangements for which you paid for, and transportation expenses associated with returning home early.
However, it's important to take a good, hard look at your trip cancellation and interruption policy before you leave to know what you're entitled to.
For example, World Nomads -- a popular insurance option for adventurous travellers or backpackers -- requires that policy holders choose to have the "most cost effective itinerary to return to your home province or departure point" in the event that you decide to return because of travel advisories.
World Nomads issued a statement specifically related to Hurricane Dorian, noting that travellers should contact their airline, cruise company, or tour operator as soon as possible if their plans have been affected.
Make sure to buy your travel insurance early when booking a trip. Coverage purchased on or after the day a storm is named will usually make any weather related claims ineligible.
Also be sure to check in the fine-print of your agreement to see what natural disasters are covered under your policy.
It's also important to note that if you choose to ignore Global Affairs' warning about the country you are travelling to, it could impact your medical travel coverage. Many insurance companies will not honour medical claims made for injuries suffered in a country that the government has issued an "avoid all travel" or "avoid all non-essential travel" advisory for.
Global Affairs encourages Canadians to carefully research travel insurance plans before leaving the country, and doing the necessary research to understand the terms and conditions of your policy before packing your bags.
It's also recommended that you carry details of your insurance policy with you while travelling, and leave instructions with friends or relatives at home about how to contact your insurer in case of emergency.
