Hurricanes In Tampa Bay

Just about every vacation destination has some threat of natural weather occurrences, Tampa Bay is no different. Hurricanes in Tampa Bay do not happen very often, but the threat is real.

I have lived in the Tampa Bay Area for more than 20 years. Here’s how we cope.

First, let me start this article by saying that the Tampa Bay area has not had a direct hit from a hurricane in over 100 years! In 1921, a hurricane made landfall in Tarpon Springs packing 115 mph winds and a 12-foot storm surge.

Hunker Down or Leave Town?

The Atlantic hurricane season starts on June 1st and runs through November 30th. Occasionally, storms develop outside of this time frame and can impact the state of Florida.

Whether you are in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, or Tampa, we have prepared and hunkered down several times, but, luckily, have avoided a direct hit.

That’s not to say that when a storm is brewing in the Gulf, we are free from the storm’s effects. Low-lying areas, coastal regions, and along rivers, can certainly flood from the storm surge and high tides during the storm.

So, what do we do when the threat of a major hurricane is heading our way?

We live about 5 miles from the coast, and are out of any flood zone risk, however, the wind! In 2017, Hurricane Irma had the Gulf Coast of Florida in its sights.

Days in advance, we started preparing, exchanging our propane tanks, stocking up on nonperishables, and filling our bathtubs with water to flush the toilets, if necessary. We did some heavy-duty prep work around here, including putting patio furniture in the pool to avoid it becoming projectiles during high winds.

As Irma made its way north after the Florida Keys, it turned east and made landfall on Marco Island, south of Naples. It was stressful, constantly watching the news and getting the latest track updates. We vowed to shut up the house and get out of town if another major storm was heading our way.

Airline Tickets

I am a career airline employee, in the reservations department. When a storm is brewing and could potentially affect airports, a weather bulletin will be issued with guidelines for your travel dates.

Often, the bulletin will allow you to reschedule your flight, within a certain date range, without a fee or fare difference. This works well if you’re already in the affected area and want to leave sooner, to avoid the storm.

If you haven’t started your journey yet, the bulletin will allow you to delay your journey, or take the full value of your ticket to use another time. In this case, fare differences may apply to your new set of dates. Of course, always check with your airline for the bulletin guidelines for your affected travel dates.

Accommodations

Being an airline employee, I’m not 100% certain how resorts, hotels, and aggregates handle this situation, however, from my experience, and the many conversations with our airline customers, if the storm is projected to make landfall at or near your hotel, a refund is generally issued.

If your hotel is in Tampa and the hurricane is expected to make landfall in Miami, chances are you’ll have a harder time getting a refund since it’s unlikely to affect your accommodation in Tampa, for example.

What happens if…?

…You can’t get out of town. There are only so many seats on already booked airplanes to get folks out of dodge. Most major airlines will increase the frequency of flights to get people out of harm’s way, but what if you’re not able to leave?

I urge you to follow the directives of the local authorities, make as many preparations as you can, and wait it out. There’s not much you can do at that point.

Breakin’ It Down: Hurricanes in Tampa Bay

Yes, it can happen. Your vacation plans are foiled due to a hurricane. That’s Mother Nature. The best thing to do is make preparations early. Change your airline tickets, call your hotel, and make a plan. It’s better to be prepared and not need it than to not prepare and be stuck!