Encouraging Canadian Travellers to Be Prepared During Hurricane Season

June 5, 2014 - The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular), today urged Canadians to be well prepared when travelling to hurricane-prone areas during the Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts from early June to late November.

“The key to hurricane or tropical storm protection is preparation,” said Minister Yelich. “Canadians travelling to vulnerable areas during hurricane season should know what steps to follow to protect themselves and their families.”

Canadians travelling to a hurricane-prone destination are encouraged to visit travel.gc.ca and observe the 3 Rs of international travel to be better prepared:

The hurricane season affects the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and the east and Gulf coasts of the United States—specifically Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. In the event of a hurricane, follow the advice of local authorities and emergency response personnel. Hurricanes often cause severe damage to infrastructure, cutting off access to transportation, power and telecommunications. The Government of Canada’s ability to assist Canadians travellers may be limited in these circumstances.

Prior to departure, inform family or friends at home of your travel arrangements and ensure they have copies of your travel documents. Verify that your travel insurance covers trip cancellation or interruption in the event of a hurricane.

While abroad, stay connected to Canada through our mobile Travel Smart application and our travel email updates, as well as RSS feeds, and follow us on Twitter or find us on Facebook to be informed of changes to travel advice and advisories pages during hurricane season. Always keep an eye on the latest warnings and advisories on local news and weather reports.

For more information, visit the Hurricane season page and Hurricane season travel tips.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Saro Khatchadourian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular)
613-944-2300
Saro.Khatchadourian@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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