Hurricane Season Update: Tropical Storm Gustav Reminds Travelers to Prepare During Late Summer and Fall Travel

Travel Guard Helps Vacationers Navigate Hurricane Season

Stevens Point, WI - August 29, 2008 - Tropical Storm Gustav will pass close by Jamaica Thursday, with computer models showing possible landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in New Orleans, Texas or Mississippi by Monday, just days after Tropical Storm Fay wreaked havoc on Florida. These increasingly frequent storms are a reminder to consumers of the damage and travel disruptions hurricanes can cause during this time of year. As a result, Travel Guard (www.travelguard.com) is recommending that vacationers purchase travel insurance this fall when planning leisure trips or traveling between now and November - typically the height of hurricane season. 

According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Gustav's path cannot yet be pinpointed. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Hanna formed northeast of Puerto Rico on Thursday, making it the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Although travelers are too late to purchase travel insurance to cover losses due to Tropical Storms Gustav and Hanna, their emergence is a reminder that the fall is traditionally an active hurricane period. Last year, Hurricane Dean, the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic basin in 15 years, struck Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula in late August. Hurricane Felix made landfall just south of the border between Nicaragua and Honduras last September. 

Travel Guard, one of America's leading providers of travel insurance and assistance services plans, offers many resources to travelers during the hurricane season, and can help cover vacation investments if severe weather conditions directly affect travelers' arrangements or accommodations. For example, if a traveler is forced to cancel a trip due to a named hurricane, travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage can reimburse pre-paid nonrefundable expenses, up to the limit of coverage purchased.  For losses to be covered, coverage must be purchased before a hurricane is named. Once a warning is issued, losses resulting from a named hurricane on, - before or less than 14 days after the effective date of coverage are excluded.

If a covered severe weather condition forces the evacuation of the traveler's hotel or resort, trip interruption coverage can provide reimbursement for unused nonrefundable expenses and additional travel expenses.

"Because the fall is a cherished travel period for many Americans, we suggest that consumers consider travel insurance in the event a tropical storm impacts your trip," says Dan McGinnity, Vice President of Travel Guard.  "In addition to covering your travel investment, most of our plans also offer emergency travel services, which come in handy when faced with the unexpected.  For example, Travel Guard customers have access to 24/7 LiveTravel emergency travel service to rebook cancelled flights and make new travel arrangement or hotel reservations."*

Most of the travel insurance plans available through Travel Guard also include 24/7 assistance for  emergency medical needs or referrals, cash transfers, replacement of lost travel documents, pre-trip health and safety advisories and live e-mail and phone messaging to family and friends.*

For more information about Travel Guard's selection of travel insurance and assistance service plans, travelers can visit www.travelguard.com or call Travel Guard's World Service Center at 1-800-826-1300.