Natural Disasters While Traveling — Emergency Preparedness Guide

Before Any Trip — The Natural Disaster Prep Checklist

The actions you take before a disaster are more valuable than anything you can do during one. This checklist applies to every international trip:

🏔️ Earthquakes

High-risk destinations: Japan, Turkey, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, Italy, New Zealand, Nepal

Earthquakes are the most sudden of natural disasters — no warning, no warning system that gives more than a few seconds of notice. Preparation and instinctive response are everything.

During the shaking

Drop, Cover, Hold On. This is the internationally recommended response. Drop to your hands and knees immediately. Get under a sturdy table or desk if one is nearby — or against an interior wall away from windows. Cover your head and neck with your arms. Hold on until the shaking stops. Do not run outside during the shaking — falling debris near doorways and building facades injures more people than the shaking itself.

Do not: stand in a doorway (outdated advice), run outside, use elevators, light candles or matches (gas leaks are common after earthquakes).

After the shaking stops

Check for injuries and structural damage before moving. If you smell gas or see exposed electrical wires, get out of the building immediately and don't use any switches or open flames. Expect aftershocks — they are common and can be significant. If you're in a coastal area in an earthquake zone, move to higher ground immediately. Earthquakes can trigger tsunamis within minutes. In Japan, earthquake emergency number is 119 for ambulance/fire and 110 for police.

🌊 Tsunamis

High-risk destinations: Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Pacific Islands, coastal Chile, New Zealand

Tsunamis are triggered by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. They are among the most deadly natural disasters for travelers in coastal areas — and entirely survivable if you act immediately on the warning signs.

Warning signs to recognize

A strong or long earthquake near the coast is the primary warning. Additionally: the sea suddenly receding dramatically (water pulling far back from the shoreline), an unusual roaring sound from the ocean, or official emergency sirens. Any of these is a signal to move to high ground immediately — not to take photos, not to pack, not to wait and see.

What to do

Move inland and uphill immediately. In Thailand and many Southeast Asian coastal destinations, tsunami evacuation routes are marked with green signs — know where they are on the first day of your stay. Aim for at least 30 meters (100 feet) above sea level or 3 kilometers (2 miles) inland. Multi-story reinforced concrete buildings are safer if higher ground is not immediately accessible — go to the highest floor.

Do not return to the coast after the first wave. Tsunamis arrive in series — the second and third waves are often larger than the first. Wait for official all-clear from local authorities before returning to low-lying areas.

🌧️ Floods

High-risk destinations: Bangladesh, India, Thailand, China, Vietnam, parts of Europe during spring, Southeast Asia during monsoon season

Flash floods in particular are extremely dangerous because of their speed and the limited warning time. River flooding in flat regions gives more lead time but can inundate large areas. Both types kill travelers who underestimate the power of moving water.

During a flood

Move to higher ground immediately if water is rising near you. Never attempt to walk through moving water — just six inches of moving floodwater can knock an adult off their feet, and two feet can carry away a vehicle. If you're in a car and water is rising, get out immediately. A submerged car fills with water very quickly and doors become impossible to open under water pressure.

If you're trapped in a building, go to the highest floor and signal for rescue from windows or the roof. Do not enter floodwater to try to reach help.

After flooding

Floodwater is contaminated with sewage, chemicals, and debris. Do not wade through it, drink it, or allow wounds to contact it. Wait for official guidance before returning to flooded areas. In India during monsoon season, check NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) alerts and contact 112 for emergency assistance.

🌀 Hurricanes and Typhoons

High-risk destinations: Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico/USA, Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia — seasonally

Unlike most natural disasters, hurricanes and typhoons come with significant advance warning — typically several days. This means preparation and early decision-making are especially important. The worst outcomes happen when travelers dismiss the warnings or delay action.

When a hurricane is forecast

Monitor official weather service forecasts, not social media. If a Category 2 or higher storm is projected for your area, contact your airline immediately about early departure options. Many airlines waive change fees during weather emergencies — act early, before flights fill up. Contact your travel insurer to understand evacuation coverage before you need it.

If evacuation is ordered by local authorities: leave immediately. Mandatory evacuation orders are issued when officials believe remaining will cost lives. Take your passport, medications, insurer contact info, and emergency cash. Leave everything else.

If you can't evacuate

Get to the most interior room of a solid building, away from windows, on the lowest level that isn't at flood risk. Fill your bathtub and every available container with fresh water — utilities often fail during storms. Charge all devices. Keep your phone in a waterproof bag. Follow local emergency services updates via battery-powered or hand-crank radio if phone networks fail. In the USA, call 911. In the Caribbean and Pacific, know the local emergency number for your specific island — they vary.

🔥 Wildfires

High-risk destinations: Western USA, California specifically, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Canada, southern France

Wildfire risk has increased dramatically in recent years across multiple continents. Travelers visiting natural areas, forested regions, or Mediterranean destinations — particularly in summer — need to understand wildfire behavior and know what to do if a fire approaches.

Signs of approaching wildfire

Visible smoke on the horizon (particularly moving toward you), an orange glow in the sky at night or in low-visibility conditions, falling ash, a strong smell of smoke, and unusually anxious behavior from local animals. Don't wait for flames to be visible — by that point, evacuation routes may already be compromised.

What to do

If an evacuation order is issued: leave immediately. Do not return to a hotel room or rental to collect belongings if the order covers your area. Take your passport, medications, and phone, and go. Wildfires move faster than most people expect — especially in dry, windy conditions.

If you're caught in a vehicle with fire approaching: stay in the car. Park in a cleared area if possible, turn off the engine, close all vents, lie on the floor covered with a blanket or clothing. A vehicle provides significantly more protection than open ground. Call 911 in the USA, 000 in Australia, 112 in France or across the EU. In France, fire is 18.

Frequently Asked Questions